KABUL: In the wake of the rise of the Islamic Emirate, the educational landscape in Afghanistan has witnessed a significant transformation, particularly impacting female students in grades 7-12.
With the closure of schools for girls, seminaries have seen a surge in attendance, prompting discussions about the evolving educational dynamics in the country.
Recent reports from instructors at seminaries indicate a notable increase of approximately 50 percent in the number of girls attending these institutions. The closure of schools catering to female students has spurred this shift, leading families to explore alternative avenues for their daughters’ education.
One seminary instructor, Shabana, shared her perspective on the matter, expressing satisfaction in the role seminaries are playing during this period of change. “The number of students has increased. We are happy that we can at least provide them with this much service,” she said. Tariq, another instructor at a seminary, highlighted that the closure of traditional schools has prompted more female students to embrace seminaries as a place of learning, noting that there are no restrictions for girls pursuing education in these institutions.
Interviews with students who have transitioned to seminaries following the closure of their schools offer insights into their experiences. Angila, formerly a grade 6 student in a medical faculty, now finds herself in a seminary environment. She emphasized the importance of education for both genders in Islam, and advocated for the reopening of schools and universities for girls. Meanwhile, some students expressed the need for a broader educational scope, as Muqadas pointed out, “School is a place where you learn science subjects, religious subjects, and seminary is a place where you cannot study anything else but religious studies.”
The Deputy Minister of Education, Karimullah Akhundzada, revealed that Afghanistan currently hosts over 14,000 registered seminaries across the nation, collectively catering to more than 330,000 students, regardless of gender. This indicates the growing significance of seminaries as educational institutions in the country.
However, women’s rights activists have voiced concerns over the disparities between men and women in terms of educational opportunities in the Islamic Emirate. They call for equal access to modern education alongside religious studies, highlighting the importance of reopening schools and universities for girls. Suraya Paikan, a prominent women’s rights activist, stressed the necessity of removing obstacles that impede women’s progress.
The persistent closure of schools beyond grade six for girls has endured for over 700 days, while universities for female students have remained shut for more than 230 days. The current landscape raises important questions about the balance between traditional and modern education in Afghanistan and the potential long-term implications for gender equality and the overall development of the nation.
