Afghan girls were once banned from attending schools, and now these religious courses have become their only option. Due to the Taliban's ban, girls over the age of 12 have been prohibited from attending school for the fourth consecutive year, leaving many young women with religious centers (Madrassas) as their only avenue for education.
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03-30, 2025Amina, an Afghan girl, will never forget the moment that changed her childhood. At the age of 12, she was told she could not go to school like boys. "All my dreams were shattered," she said, her voice fragile and filled with emotion. Amina had always dreamed of becoming a doctor, but her dream was forcibly interrupted after the Taliban regained power in 2021. "When my father told me the school was closed, I was very sad. I wanted to be educated so that I could become a doctor."
According to UNICEF data, the Taliban's restrictions on girls' education affect more than one million girls. Now, religious centers focusing on Islamic teachings have become the only way for many women and girls to receive education. However, girls whose families can afford private tutoring can still study subjects including mathematics, science, and languages.
While some believe that religious centers provide young women with some of the education they would have received in mainstream schools, others argue that they are no substitute for mainstream schools and there are concerns about indoctrination. The reporter met Amina at the Al-Hadith religious center in Kabul, a newly established private religious education center with approximately 280 female students of different ages.
The Al-Hadith religious center was founded a year ago by Amina's brother, Hamid, who felt compelled to take action after seeing the impact of the education ban on his sister. "When girls were deprived of the opportunity to be educated, my sister's dream of becoming a heart surgeon was shattered, which seriously affected her well-being," Hamid said. "Having the opportunity to return to school and learn midwifery and first aid knowledge makes her feel much better about her future."
Afghanistan remains the only country in the world that prohibits women from receiving secondary and higher education. The Taliban government initially stated that the ban would be temporary, pending the fulfillment of certain conditions, such as "Islamic" curriculum. However, there has been no progress in reopening schools for older girls since then.
A report by the Afghanistan Human Rights Center in January 2025 pointed out that religious centers are being used to advance the Taliban's ideological goals. The report stated that "extremist content" has been incorporated into their curriculum. Textbooks advocated by the Taliban promote their political and military activities, prohibit gender mixing, and endorse mandatory wearing of the hijab.
The Taliban Ministry of Education claims that approximately 3 million students in Afghanistan are enrolled in these religious education centers. It has pledged to reopen girls' schools under certain conditions, but this has not yet been achieved. Despite the many challenges, Amina remains hopeful. "I still believe that one day the Taliban will allow schools and universities to reopen," she said firmly. "I will realize my dream of becoming a heart surgeon."
