2.4 million girls banned from Afghan schools since Taliban return: UNESCO

August 12, 2026 - 04:28

The United Nations has released a stark new report revealing that approximately 2.4 million girls in Afghanistan have been barred from secondary education since the Taliban reclaimed control of the country in August 2021. The figures, published by UNESCO on Tuesday, highlight the devastating impact of the regime's sweeping restrictions on women's rights to learning.

According to the data, not a single girl has been allowed to enroll in secondary school for the past three academic years. The ban, which was imposed shortly after the Taliban's takeover, effectively halts any formal education for girls beyond the age of 12. This leaves an entire generation without the basic tools to read, write, or pursue vocational training, a situation UNESCO describes as a "deepening crisis" with long-term consequences for the nation's development.

The report also notes that while primary school enrollment has seen a slight decline, the most severe damage is concentrated in the middle and high school levels. Beyond the classroom, the Taliban has also restricted women from attending universities and working in many public sector jobs, further isolating them from public life. UNESCO is calling on the international community to continue pressuring the de facto authorities to reverse these policies, warning that the longer the ban persists, the harder it will be for Afghan girls to ever catch up. The agency stresses that denying education is not just a violation of fundamental rights, but a direct blow to the country's future stability and economic recovery.