As the new academic year 1403 (solar year) approaches, girls deprived of education in Herat are demanding the reopening of schools for students above grade six.

They said that due to the closure of schools, they have faced psychological problems and have lost hope.

Sharifa Ghiasi told TOLOnews that she was in grade seven when she was deprived of going to school and had to turn to tailoring out of necessity.

She added that she has been counting the days for the reopening of schools, but so far, her wish has not been fulfilled.

"It has been two years since the schools were closed, and we turned to tailoring. We request the Islamic Emirate to open the schools so that we can study and build a good future," Sharifa told TOLOnews.

A number of girls deprived of education, who are engaged in tailoring alongside Sharifa, said that due to being deprived of education, they have turned to tailoring and vocational training out of necessity.

"We came here out of necessity because we were always at home, and now we have become busy with tailoring, and we want from the Islamic Emirate to reopen the schools," said Hasanat Osmani, a deprived student.

"We were not allowed to go to school and had to turn to tailoring; we want to continue our studies," said Nazanin Habibi, another student.

About 20 girls deprived of education are engaged to learn tailoring daily at different times in a tailoring workshop, and some of these girls have become tailors during the past two years.

"They come to us for work and training; these are girls deprived of education, they work here with their broken heart of their hopes because they are not interested in tailoring; they want to go to school, study, and to have a good future," said Rana Ishaqzai, the head of the tailoring workshop.

More than 900 days have passed since the closure of schools for girls above grade six.

The Ministry of Education has always announced that the closure of girls' schools is not permanent but temporary until further notice, but it is still unclear when the schools for girls above grade six will reopen.