Amidst the ban on women’s higher education, female students from tutoring centers said they were not allowed by the Islamic Emirate forces to attend their classes on Thursday.

“First, we didn’t have the permission of our families. Now that they have allowed us, the Taliban asked us not to continue education. Is this a good act by the government? They say they are doing us a favor. What type of favor is this?” said Najma, a student.

“They have removed Afghan women and girls in society. All women are observing Hijab. They asked us to wear masks. We did so. What should we do now? Even we are ready to wear burka if they want,” said another student.

The women said that universities and all education centers should reopen and they need to get educated.

“We just want our tutoring centers reopened. Let us learn. We have nothing else but the opportunity to study in these centers. The schools are closed,” said Fahima, a student.
 
“We should be provided with our rights. We came to our classes today but they said the classes will be closed from Thursday,” said a student from a tutoring center in Kabul.

A number of instructors and owners of private institutions said they received orders from the caretaker government that girls above 12 years of age are not allowed to attend classes.

“They told us that they have made the list of the institutions where students above 12 years of age were enrolled,” said Hasibullah, a university lecturer. 

“They warned us all and those from educational centers that we will be treated harshly if we repeat this. They said no female student has the right to continue her lessons either in a tutoring center or at university,” said Ibrahim Irshadi, a university lecturer.  
 
Students’ parents said they are concerned about the future of their children.

“My daughter thinks that his father is a hero. I told her that I cannot do anything for my daughter. We call on the Islamic Emirate to reopen the schools and tutoring centers for girls,” said Mamor Agha, a resident of Kabul. 

“What would our children do? What they can do in the future? What can they become?” asked Mohammad Arif, a Kabul resident.  

Secondary schools for girls are closed for the past 460 days while universities and tutoring centers were closed for women this week.