THE Afghan Taliban’s announcement of the indefinite closure of girls’ schools just two days after their education ministry released a congratulatory video is both disappointing and deeply concerning. On March 21, the Taliban said they would lift a seven-month-old de facto ban on girls’ education from Class 6 onwards and reopen schools on the first day of Afghanistan’s new academic year. Two days later, the Taliban backtracked, saying they were putting in place policies compliant with the “principles of Islamic law and Afghan culture”. One report said the education ministry was facing a shortage of teachers, following the exodus of thousands of Afghans, many among them trained teachers, after the Taliban’s triumphant march into Kabul last August. A senior Taliban figure said the schools would be reopened after a “standardised uniform” for girls was introduced that reflected the Afghan culture. But there was also a report suggesting deep divisions within the Taliban’s Supreme Council of Jurisprudence on whether or not girls could be permitted to seek education beyond Class 6. This smacks of contradiction as well as confusion.

The Taliban allowed public universities to reopen last month, holding out the promise that girls’ schools would restart too. Their leadership held meetings and visited hospitals to speak to women doctors and nurses, encouraging them to return to work and continue to serve. Yet, they are still grappling with the issue of girls’ education and women’s participation in public life. Looking deeper into the Taliban mindset, it is abundantly clear that their leadership is still struggling to embrace the idea of women’s role in Afghan society. Little do they realise that no country can progress without the active participation of its women in building society, not least in Afghanistan where they constitute 48pc of the total population. Afghanistan has already seen a brain-drain and there is a shortage of skilled and trained manpower. One hopes that saner elements within the Taliban leadership prevail and the decision to close down girls’ schools is rescinded.'

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2022