Deprived of schooling, Afghan girls defy the ban to learn

Since the Taliban seized power in 2021, Afghan girls have been massively excluded from school. Deprived of access to secondary and higher education, millions of young women find themselves without educational prospects. Faced with this ban, some resist through distance learning or clandestine classes, despite the risks and obstacles.

A generation deprived of schooling

Afghanistan is currently the only country in the world where girls are prohibited from attending school beyond primary level. Students as young as 12 are forced to leave school. According to UNESCO , more than 2.2 million girls are affected by this measure. This regression erases the educational progress made between 2001 and 2021.

This exclusion has serious consequences: isolation, early marriage, economic dependence, and loss of autonomy. Adolescent girls are forced to stay home, often reduced to domestic chores. The fundamental right to education is denied, shattering the hopes of an entire generation.

Online learning as a refuge

Faced with this reality, clandestine distance learning networks are developing. Afghan women refugees abroad, particularly in France and Canada, are organizing virtual courses in programming, languages, and history. Students connect using pseudonyms, with their cameras off, in constant fear of being identified.

Limited and unreliable internet access in many areas further complicates this learning process. Yet, these courses offer a lifeline to those who refuse to give up on their dreams. As one teacher quoted by Courrier International points out, " it's a form of silent resistance."

Clandestine classes on site

Meanwhile, some NGOs like Femaid organize in-person classes in secret locations. The organization provides secondary education to girls aged 11 to 18. The teachers, often themselves in danger, teach in private homes or hidden locations.

These initiatives allow a few hundred students to continue their schooling, but they remain limited. The risk of arrest is constant, for both teachers and students. Yet, these classes provide structure, hope, and dignity to those who participate.

A global fight for the right to education

UNESCO, UNICEF, and other international organizations condemn this exclusion and call for support for local initiatives. For them, this is not just about education, but about fundamental human rights. Access to knowledge is essential for the autonomy, health, and economic development of societies.

Educational media outlets are also contributing to this effort by broadcasting educational content tailored to young Afghan women. However, these alternatives do not replace equitable and safe access to education for all.

Resisting through knowledge

In a country where studying can be an act of rebellion , thousands of girls continue to learn in secret in Afghanistan. Between online courses and clandestine schools, they embody a quiet but determined resistance. These initiatives, though fragile, remind us that no oppression can completely extinguish the thirst for knowledge.

Without sustained support for these alternatives, an entire generation risks growing up in the shadows, deprived of its future. Education is not a luxury: it is a fundamental right that deserves to be defended, everywhere and for everyone.

Naila T.
Naila T.
I analyze the societal trends that shape our bodies, our identities, and our relationships with the world. What drives me is understanding how norms evolve and transform in our lives, and how discourses on gender, mental health, and self-image permeate everyday life.

LAISSER UN COMMENTAIRE

S'il vous plaît entrez votre commentaire!
S'il vous plaît entrez votre nom ici

"Raising boys not to be girls": this actress speaks out about an often minimized reality

“Boys are not raised to be men, but not to be girls.” This statement, shared by British actress...

Filming women without their consent: a growing and worrying phenomenon

In the street, on public transport, or while queuing in a shop, women are increasingly being filmed without...

A statement deemed "sexist" reignites the debate on the place of women in football

Has women's football truly earned its place in the world of football? According to some historical figures in...

To "feel beautiful again," she decides to shave her head completely.

Creating beauty content is her job. However, in December 2025, Erika Titus, one of TikTok's rising stars, decided...

"A woman's worthlessness ends after 25": she speaks out against sexist remarks

On TikTok, content creator @deraslife_ turned a sexist remark into a brilliant, funny, and profoundly liberating response. Her...

Targeted by a wave of hatred, this journalist is leaving football

Journalist Vanessa Le Moigne recently announced she was ending her football coverage after being subjected to a vicious...