School-aged girls in Kabul urged the Islamic Emirate to immediately reopen secondary high schools for girls and young women. 

Madina, who is in grade 12 of one of the Kabul schools, said she hopes that schools in Kabul will be reopened. “I am optimistic about reopening schools in some provinces. We wish that schools will be opened in Kabul and other provinces,” she added. “Because the winter is coming and the weather is getting cold and facilities are very limited in public schools, so then we can’t study.”  

It has been nearly two months that the schools have remained closed for girls since the Islamic Emirate swept into power. However, the schools of three northern provinces--Balkh, Kunduz and Sar-i- Pul--have remained opened for girls.  

School teacher Momina said, “The classes are segregated, even the time shift of girls and boys is different and teachers are also female and some high schools are only for girls.”  

The teachers believe that the longtime closure of schools not only deprives the students but will also affect the education system. 

“Girls also have the right to education and the schools must be immediately opened. A big sector of society, which is women, should not be affected,” said a school teacher named Ashoqullah.  

On Monday UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that Afghan women and girls need to be the center of the attention.  

“I am alarmed to see promises made to Afghan women and girls by the Taliban being broken,” he added. “I strongly appeal to the Taliban to keep their promises to women and girls and their obligations under international human rights law.”