After hours of reopening, Taliban again shuts girls' schools in Afghanistan
Kabul, March 23: The Taliban administration in Afghanistan has announced the closure of girls’ high schools, just hours after they reopened for the first time in nearly seven months.
Because of the Taliban's backtracking, female students above the sixth grade would be unable to attend school.
Taliban's order to keep girls' schools shut has sparked confusion and heartbreak as hundreds of girl students looked forward to returning to school on Wednesday.
According to Bakhtar News Agency, a Ministry of Education notice issued on Wednesday stated that schools for girls would remain closed until a plan in accordance with Islamic law and Afghan culture was devised.
“We inform all girls high schools and those schools that are having female students above class six that they are off until the next order,” the notice read.
The education ministry, on the other hand, acknowledged that authorities faced a shortage of teachers since tens of thousands of people fled the country when the Taliban seized control in Afghanistan.
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“We need thousands of teachers and to solve this problem we are trying to hire new teachers on a temporary basis,” a Taliban spokesman informed.
After months of restrictions on education for high school-aged girls, the Ministry of Education said last week that schools for all students, including girls, would reopen across the country on Wednesday.
When the Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, they prohibited female education and most female employment. However, after regaining control in August, the group has promised educational and career opportunities for girls.
The international community has made girls' education a major demand for any future recognition of the Taliban regime, which seized control of the country.
However, since assuming power, the Taliban have deliberately attacked women's rights in practically every aspect, including restricting women's freedom of movement. The vast majority of secondary schools for girls were closed. Universities have recently reopened, with new gender segregation policies in place.
Many women, however, are unable to return, in part because the career they studied for is no longer accessible, as the Taliban has barred women from most jobs.
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-PTC News
