Afghan girls are learning online despite government restrictions

Since the Taliban government took power in Afghanistan, Afghan girls have been deprived of various forms of education and freedom. Since the Taliban came to power in 2021, various government restrictions, especially on female education, have created a dangerous situation for the country's female and teenage students.

Saliha (pseudonym) is an 18-year-old girl who dreamed of becoming a doctor. But after the Taliban government closed schools, her education path was cut off. However, she did not give up. Although her identity is being withheld for security reasons, she said that she is continuing her struggle to learn online. "I am saving money one by one to buy a computer and pay for the internet," she said.

This crisis is not limited to Saliha, but about 1.4 million girls in Afghanistan are being deprived of education. Even so, in such a situation, some Afghan women and girls are looking for opportunities to learn secretly or online. However, the problem is more complex. In 2022, only 6% of women in Afghanistan had access to the internet, far less than men.

In this situation, Pashtana Durrani, who has created a digital education system called ‘Learn Afghanistan’, has created a flexible learning model for Afghan girls. Her organization not only provides online education, but also runs secret schools in six provinces, where about 700 girls are studying. Durrani said, “Education is being provided in a way that is respectful and flexible to local cultures.”

Mitra Alokozay, executive director of Sahar Education, a non-profit organization that works to improve women’s education, also appealed to the support of male members of Afghan families. “Men’s support is very important to support women in this transition,” she said.

However, due to the restrictions imposed by the Taliban government, Afghanistan’s education system has largely collapsed. According to a UNESCO report, there were 6.8 million students in Afghanistan in 2019, which has decreased to 5.7 million in 2022.

In addition, the mental health of girls in Afghanistan is also deteriorating. Human rights groups say that the ban on women's education is fueling violence and has led to an increase in suicides.

Saliha and other Afghan girls have urged the international community to be aware of their plight and help provide Afghan girls with access to education. "If one door closes, let us open another, don't leave us alone," Saliha said.

Protecting and ensuring the right of women to education in Afghanistan is an important responsibility for the international community.