BAHARIN LEHIB

Kabul- Since the takeover in August 2021, the Taliban have violated the rights of women and girls. Girls have been banned from secondary education for two years and female teachers working in boys’ schools were fired or transferred to girls' schools.

There is a lack of professional teachers at boys’ schools. The Taliban's curriculum was published on social networks. The Taliban banned girls from taking the first round of university exams in 11 provinces.

Last year, most of the girls taking the university entrance exam successfully passed the exam; however, they were not allowed to study journalism, economics, engineering, veterinary and agriculture.

We spoke to Nazanin Wafa, one of the girls who graduated from high school last year but was not allowed to take this year’s university entrance exam. She now teaches math and English to girls in a home-based school secretly. “The Taliban make their last efforts to oppress us, women,” she said.

“I am not surprised I was not allowed to take the entrance exam. This was not the first ban on us. Last year, girls were not allowed to go to university although they successfully passed the university entrance exam. I know that women and girls are dealing with medieval people in the 21st century. We are at home for now, but we, as women, will finally unite and overthrow the medieval mindset of the Taliban.”