Taliban to return Afghan girls back to secondary schools

Last Monday, the Taliban announced that girls will be allowed to get back to secondary schools, with the exact time soon to be announced by the Ministry of Education.

 

“Our efforts are underway to soon reopen girls’ (secondary) schools, so the education process soon returns to normal,” said Taliban spokesperson Bilal Karimi.

 

“We are still working on the guidelines and regulations to provide girls a safe educational environment. The schools will be reopened once these measures are completed,” claimed Karimi.

 

Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August, schools for teenage girls were closed temporarily. The girls were told to stay home from school until a “safe learning environment” is established. Not only did the girls not return to school during this period, but women, in general, were restricted from doing any economic activities. They were also required to wear burqas (ankle-to-head covering) and were allowed to take a stroll on the streets only when a male relative accompanied them. Anyone suspected of doing illicit acts would be punished with brutal beatings and public executions.

 

Leaving those violent policies behind, the Taliban recently appeared somewhat more open to women’s education when compared to the ’90s. On 18th September, they ordered all female primary students to return to their schools, excluding older girls. The fact that older girls were excluded bulged the fears that the Taliban could return to their past rules.

 

“Indicated that it was imminent that girls in secondary schools and their female teachers would be returning very soon,” said Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker.

 

“This is something that we’ve been hearing from the Taliban since they took power. Yes, they’re going to return. But it’s going to take time. And of course, that’s taking a toll on a lot of the girls,” she said.

 

After witnessing such insufficient actions for the Taliban's promises to Afghan females, the secretary-general of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, denounced them publicly earlier this month.

 

“Broken promises lead to broken dreams for the women and girls of Afghanistan,” the UN chief said. “Females need to be in the center of attention.”