Female students above grade six say the closing of their schools is causing them mental health trouble.

The students said they are counting the seconds until school will be reopened.

Saeeda, a student in grade 10, said she dreams of being a doctor in the future. Saeeda said she is afraid to not reach her dreams now because girls beyond grade six are not allowed to go to school.

“I am very disappointed that the schools were not reopened. It is the right of every girl to have access to education,” said Saeeda, a student in grade 10.

“We seriously don’t know what type of situation this is. We should go to school to make our future,” said Setayish, a student.

Psychologists say that the banning of these girls from school is causing mental stress.

“When someone likes something and is prevented from doing it, it causes mental stress and anxiety. The girls who like education and are not allowed to engage in it, it causes them mental pressure,” said Jamshid Rasa, a psychologist.

Sociologists said banning girls from education can pave the ground for early and forced marriages in the country.

“The banning of girls from going to secondary and high school will cause a surge in forced marriage,” said Bahauddin Baqayi, a sociologist.

The Islamic Emirate’s decision to ban female students above grade six from going to school has faced widespread criticism at the national and international level.

Earlier, religious clerics at several gatherings urged the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for girls above grade six under an Islamic structure.