UNESCO says 2.4 million Afghan girls denied access to further education

August 11, 2026 - 19:06

A new report from UNESCO reveals that 2.4 million Afghan girls are currently denied access to secondary education, a direct result of the Taliban's ban on female schooling beyond the sixth grade. The agency warns that if the policy remains in place, that number could climb to four million by 2030, representing a lost generation with profound consequences for the country's future.

The data, released on International Education Day, shows that since 2021, no girls have been allowed to sit for official exams or attend classes in grades seven through twelve. The ban has also affected higher education, with female students barred from universities since late 2022. UNESCO's analysis points out that even before the Taliban took power, Afghanistan had significant educational gaps, but the current restrictions have erased years of progress.

Beyond the immediate loss of learning, the report highlights ripple effects: increased child marriage, higher maternal mortality, and a severe shortage of female teachers and health workers. UNESCO's director-general called the situation a "grave violation of a fundamental human right" and urged the international community to continue pressuring the Taliban to reverse the decision. The agency also stressed that without urgent action, the long-term economic and social damage to Afghanistan will be irreversible.