KABUL: Afghanistan’s educational landscape has faced severe challenges, earning its position among countries grappling with a dire educational situation, as highlighted by Maleiha Malik, Executive Director of Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict (PEIC).
The situation has been exacerbated by governmental and non-state party interventions, dealing a heavy blow to the nation’s educational infrastructure and opportunities.
According to Malik, Afghanistan has consistently held a place on the list of countries facing persistent educational setbacks. Notably, the assaults on education have been perpetrated not only by state actors but also by armed non-state entities. What further compounds the issue is the increasing prominence of armed non-state actors, often overshadowing the destruction caused by state parties. This complicates efforts to ascertain the full extent of the damage inflicted by various stakeholders.
The new barriers to education in Afghanistan remain formidable, remarked Malik, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced in restoring the education system to a functional state.
In response to the crisis, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, asserted their commitment to ensuring Afghan girls have the right to an education. However, Mujahid refrained from elaborating further on the situation regarding the education of females in Afghanistan. He acknowledged that while education has been temporarily suspended, efforts are underway to address the issue.
The educational centres can bridge the educational gap that has emerged during this time when female students are not permitted to attend universities and schools are not conducive for them, stated Sangar Khalid, the head of the Union of Educational Centres.
Amidst this crisis, female students have vocally advocated for the reopening of schools for girls, emphasizing the detrimental consequences of ignoring the education of women in society. Fatema, a student, underscored the importance of inclusivity in preserving a civilized culture.
