The United Nations Children's Fund called on the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools grades 7-12 for Afghan girls.  

The deputy executive director for the program at UNICEF, Omar Abdi, who paid a visit to Afghanistan last week, said that the officials of the Islamic Emirate pledged to reopen the schools for the girls within the next two months.  

“I was in Afghanistan last week and met with several authorities with the de facto government,” he added. “In all of my meetings, the education of the girls was the first issue that I raised.”  

This comes as some of the girl students also voiced concerns over the lengthy closure of schools.

The 7 to 12 grade classes have remained closed for girls after the fall of the former government, except for several provinces in the north.

“I am not the only one who is concerned over the future. My classmates are worried and don’t know whether (we) will be allowed to attend the schools or not,” said Mariam, a student. 

According to UNICEF's deputy head, currently girls are allowed in five of 34 provinces across the country to attend the schools.

However, he stressed that the Islamic Emirate must allow all girls to go to school.  

Human Rights Watch expressed concerns over the closure of the girls schools, saying that depriving girls of an education would pave the way for forced marriages. 

“Since the Taliban regained control of the country, they have systematically ruled back the rights of women and girls,” said Heather Barr, Associate director, women’s rights division. “One example of that is of course the fact that almost all girls of secondary schools are closed at this time, it has been about 22 days since the boys were told to come back but girls were not. They have also placed severe restrictions.”