Baharan Lahib

Afghanistan — The Taliban government celebrated "Education Day" on Thursday, March 26, one of the country’s most notable annual occasions. Although tradition holds that the academic year begins on the third day after Nowruz and Farmers' Day, the Taliban announced this year that schooling would start in late March, a clear change from the traditional schedule.

Once again, millions of girls in Afghanistan find themselves deprived of their right to education. Last year, sixth-grade students were barred from continuing their studies, joining millions of others forced to remain inside their homes. In contrast, religious schools are growing in popularity, limiting the prospects of future generations and excluding them from formal education. A small number of girls attempt to continue their lessons online despite the high costs, while others turn to religious schools as a way to pass the time. The majority remain vulnerable to forced marriage; some families force their young daughters to marry much older men, ostensibly to protect them from the Taliban living in remote areas.

For over four years, half of Afghanistan’s population — its women — have been deprived of education. Although many women and girls across Afghanistan have established secret classes in their homes, these efforts cannot replace a state education system with a structured curriculum. All families believe that as long as Taliban rule continues, future generations in Afghanistan will suffer a devastating educational blow that will take centuries to recover from.

In an attempt to better understand the educational reality, we visited several schools today to assess their conditions. The atmosphere inside the schools was cold and devoid of any vitality, making it hard to believe the academic year had just begun. In private schools, only a limited number of students attended to register, due to the high costs of uniforms, books, and tuition in a society burdened by poverty.

During our visit to Shaheed Dagrawal Farooq Secondary School — a school designated for girls from sixth grade and above — we found no female students or teachers on the premises. The same scene repeated itself in most schools we visited today, with female staff completely absent. When asked why, school administrators explained that the Taliban government had yet to issue a decision regarding allowing female teachers to return to teaching, leaving the education of girls suspended with no clear prospect.

We went to the home of Mahmouda Gul, a teacher at a government school, to uncover what is happening behind the closed doors of educational institutions. She said: "We were forced to sign attendance logs starting March 6, 2026. Today, the start of the academic year was officially announced, so I and all the female teachers came to our classes as requested. The school principal was a woman, but she was prevented from continuing her work, and a Taliban leader took over running the school in her place."

She noted that the principal told them that after signing the attendance logs, they had to return directly home until the government issues its decision regarding whether female teachers may continue teaching. "We come only to sign, then we go back home without knowing what awaits us."

She added: "We are humiliated daily, and we are forced to attend classes on religious teachings imposed by the Taliban. We haven’t received our salaries for months, yet we women desperately need income and a real role in society. I dream of the day when women lead this country, so we can bring about radical change that brings peace and stability to our society."

It is worth noting that the academic year in Afghanistan usually begins in late March, and the celebration of the start of the academic year typically coincides with Nowruz, which falls on the 21st of the same month.