Taliban Remain Silent on Reopening Girls’ Schools in Afghanistan

DID Press: Afghanistan’s Taliban-led Ministry of Education outlined its plans for the start of the 2026 academic year but made no mention of reopening girls’ schools beyond sixth grade. Since 23 March 2022, millions of Afghan girls have been denied access to formal education.

Despite widespread domestic and international criticism, and even reported disagreements among Taliban members, the group has shown no signs of altering its policy to allow girls to return to school.

In its statement, the ministry claimed the new academic year has begun in a “safe environment” and announced plans for “healthy, quality, and balanced” education, including restructuring the ministry, holding seminars and capacity-building workshops, activating day-and-night high schools, repairing and renovating school buildings, conducting standardized exams, and facilitating private educational centers.

The ministry also asserted that hundreds of previously inactive schools were reopened last year, and 426 day-and-night schools were established across 34 provinces.