Girls in the eastern province of Nangarhar are concerned about their uncertain future as schools from grade 7 to 12 have remained closed for girls since the Islamic Emirate swept into power in Afghanistan.  

The students urged the government to provide them with educational opportunities.  

Safa, 13, is a student in grade six. She said that she is worried about whether she will be allowed to attend her next class as the government has opened high schools for girls this year.  

“We hope the classes beyond grade six will be started,” said Safa, a student.  

“Every morning when I come to school, my older sisters ask me about the school and when will their classes be opened,” said Wajiha, a student.  

The provincial education department said that it has been attempting to facilitate girls’ access to education beyond grade 6.  

“The Islamic Emirate will make the necessary decisions about their education and future. We hope the issue will be solved soon in the way that the problems of primary girl schools were solved,” said Mufti Habib Hazrat Haqqani, head of Nangarhar's education department. “This ban is for a temporary period of time, and is due to a lack of proper conditions."  

The teachers said that the school attendance of girls is important.

“There is not a day that we don’t have a student asking about her school. They come here every day and ask about when their schools will be opened,” a teacher told TOLOnews.  

The Islamic Emirate allowed the reopening of schools for girls grade 7-12 in several provinces, but thousands of girls are still not allowed to attend school across the country.