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AfA Today · Topic 2

Education Bans

A girl in a headscarf writes with coloured pencils in an exercise book, another child at the table behind her
Photo: Mehdi Khoshnejad / Pexels

1. Restriction of primary schools and closure of religious schools

Although attending primary school is still permitted for girls, this applies only up to Grade 6 (BAMF 2025). In addition, in August 2025 the Taliban closed several religious schools (madrasas) for older girls in Kabul, so that in many places primary school represents the only remaining educational opportunity (BAMF 2025). Afghanistan remains the only country in the world that officially prohibits women and girls from education beyond primary level (UNESCO 2026). Around 2.4 million girls are now systematically excluded from the secondary school system (UNESCO 2026; Reuters 2026).

2. Acute teacher shortage and downward spiral

Strict gender segregation and the requirement that girls may only be taught by women have led to a massive education crisis:

  • Flight and occupational bans: Numerous qualified female teachers have left the country (Reuters 2026). Women in the civil service have in some cases been dismissed or had their duties severely curtailed (BAMF 2026). In addition, the Taliban are increasingly prohibiting women from teaching boys, which is leading to an acute shortage of teaching staff at boys’ schools (Reuters 2026).
  • The vicious circle: Since girls have not been allowed to attend higher schools or universities for years, no new qualified female teachers are coming through (UNICEF 2026).
  • Forecast: According to current analyses, Afghanistan faces a shortfall of up to 20,000 qualified female teachers in the system by 2030 (UNICEF 2026). An additional UNESCO estimate puts the shortage at at least 11,000 trained female educators (Reuters 2026).

Sources

  • BAMF – Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (2025): Briefing Notes Afghanistan – Juli bis Dezember 2025 (Zusammenfassung). bamf.de
  • BAMF – Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (2026): Länderreport Afghanistan – Wirtschaftliche und humanitäre Lage, Stand 03/2026. bamf.de
  • Reuters (2026): Taliban have barred 2.4 million Afghan girls from school since 2021, UNESCO says. Reuters wire copy, published by The Star. thestar.com.my
  • UNESCO (2026): Five years on: UNESCO calls for the full restoration of the right to education for Afghan girls and women. unesco.org
  • UNICEF (2026): The Cost of Inaction on Girls’ Education and Women’s Labour Force Participation in Afghanistan. UNICEF UK press release. unicef.org.uk