2.4 million Afghan girls shut out of secondary school during 5 years of Taliban rule, UN says

August 11, 2026 - 20:25

A new report from the United Nations reveals that over 2.4 million Afghan girls have been denied secondary education during the five years since the Taliban regained control of the country. The UN cultural agency, UNESCO, released the figures on Tuesday, calling the situation a grave violation of fundamental rights and demanding the immediate restoration of schooling for women and girls.

According to UNESCO, the ban on female education beyond the sixth grade has not only halted progress for an entire generation but also risks creating a long-term crisis for Afghanistan's development. The agency noted that if the current restrictions remain in place, the number of out-of-school girls could continue to climb, with devastating effects on literacy, health, and economic stability.

UNESCO officials stressed that education is not a privilege but a basic human right. They urged the Taliban leadership to reverse the policy without delay, pointing to the broader international isolation that the ban has caused. The report also highlighted that even before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan faced significant challenges in female enrollment, but the current situation marks a sharp and deliberate reversal. Aid groups have warned that the longer the ban continues, the harder it will be for Afghan girls to catch up, leaving many without the skills needed to participate in society or rebuild their country.