Baghlan officials and teachers called on the government to reopen schools for girls in grades 7-12 in the province.

Officials of the education department in Baghlan said that along with gaining religious education, getting a modern education is also necessary for society.

They said that education is the right of girls and they urged that schools be reopened. The officials also said that they have prepared to reopen schools for girls.

“Learning the Quran and Hadith is an obligation; similarly, other areas like medical science are also obligatory,” said Mawlawe Abdul Raqeeb Haqqani, director of the education department in Pul -e-Khumri.

“We call on our tribal elders to try together with us to reopen schools for our daughters and sisters,” said Mohammad Noor Azizi, head of the education department of Baghlan.

Several teachers and students called on the Islamic Emirate to open schools from grades 7-12 for girls.

“We ask the government to not ban education for girls,” said Saliha Wardak, principal of Gawhar Shad Begum high school.

“Schools have to be open for girls so they can learn, a society without women cannot progress,” said Roqaya, a student.

Several of the students who are in the sixth grade expressed concern about their future.

“I am concerned about my seventh grade class, how will I learn? And how we will teach others?” said Khadijih, a student.

Talks to reopen schools for girls have increased, and the Islamic Emirate has announced that efforts are ongoing in this area.