Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, life has changed drastically for girls in Afghanistan, especially when it comes to education. For nearly four years, girls have not been allowed to attend school beyond sixth grade, leaving many of them in despair and longing for change.

As the results of the Kankor, Afghanistan’s nationwide university entrance exam, were announced recently, thousands of young Afghan girls, who were not allowed to take the exam, could only watch and hope for a brighter future.

“We need educated girls to rescue our society,” says Nabina

Women and girls across Afghanistan are continuing to speak up. Nabina, while talking to TOLOnews, stressed how important education is not just for individuals, but for the entire country.

“To improve our economic, political, and social conditions, we need educated girls so we can rescue ourselves from these political crises. Therefore, we urge the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to reopen the schools for us as soon as possible.”

The prolonged closure of schools has deeply affected teachers and students alike. Sophia, a teacher, shared how heartbreaking it is to see girls drop out of school after sixth grade.

“The continued closure of schools has had a very negative impact on students. Each girl who finishes sixth grade returns home in sorrow and despair because she no longer has hope of returning to school.”

Students like Beheshta still hold on to their dreams, even though the chances of achieving them seem far away under the current restrictions.

“It’s been nearly four years since we’ve been out of school. If schools were open and we had been allowed to take the Kankor exam, our results would have been announced yesterday, and I could have studied in my favourite field, journalism, and become a successful journalist. But we were not allowed to study.”

Education for girls cut short after grade 6

In 2022, the Taliban had announced that schools would reopen for girls, only to reverse that decision shortly after. Since then, only girls aged 12 and below are allowed to attend school. This restriction has left teenage girls and young women with no access to formal education, forcing many to put their dreams on hold.

As the rest of the world continues to progress, Afghan girls are hoping for just one thing: the right to learn again.