Human Rights Watch expressed concerns over closed schools for girls above grade six, saying that the closure of girls’ schools will have negative consequences for the Afghan girls.

The Associate Director of the Women's Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, Heather Barr, called on the international community to take action for the reopening of schools for female students in grades 7-12.

“It is almost 10 months now that the Taliban have been denying girls’ access to secondary education and, of course, this comes on top of the barriers to education that were already created particularly for girls over the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

Somaya is one of the thousands of students who said she has been fighting to reach her dreams.

Somaya speaks three languages: English, Dari and Pashto.

“Since I am banned from going to the school, I feel frustrated. My life is boring. My father encourages me that the school will be reopened soon,” she said.

“When I see that girls above grade six are not going to school. I feel frustrated and am not willing to study,” said Alia, a student of grade five.

“If they ask us, we will wear burqas but please let us go to the school,” Somaya said.

“These obstacles will affect the future of Afghanistan,” said Khalil Ahmad Kanjo, a university instructor.

Although the Islamic Emirate has formed a committee to facilitate the reopening of girls schools, there has yet to be any progress in this regard.