K–12
Under the Taliban, K–12 schooling has seen major shifts—from bans on girls’ education to ongoing curriculum changes. Key developments are tracked here.
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August 30: The Taliban announced the prohibition of mixed-gender education and stated that male teachers would not be permitted to instruct female students.
September 12: Authorities suspended secondary education for girls.
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January 3: Educational facilities for blind girls in Nangarhar and Kunar were closed.
February 7, 2022 – Taliban officials send daughters to school abroad. Reports indicate that Taliban elites are sending their daughters to schools overseas while restricting girls’ education in Afghanistan.
March 17: Officials announced that girls’ schools would reopen at the start of the 1401 school year.
March 24: Shortly after, a new announcement confirmed that girls in grade seven and above would remain out of school.
June 1: In Ghazni, girls in grades four through six were instructed to cover their faces while traveling to school, with noncompliance potentially leading to expulsion.
September 11: Secondary and high schools for girls in Paktia, which had briefly reopened, were closed again.
October 6: Hundreds of adolescent girls in Kandahar were removed from school following verbal orders from local education officials.
December 22: Girls above grade six were prohibited from attending private tutoring centers and courses.
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June 8: Foreign NGOs were banned from providing educational services, including community-based programs. UNICEF estimated that this decision would impact approximately 500,000 learners, including around 300,000 girls.
October 22: Kandahar’s religious police informed elementary schools and women’s madrasas that the burqa would be the only acceptable form of hijab.
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Jan 13, 2024 – Local leaders advocate for reopening girls’ schools Religious scholars and elders urge the Taliban to reopen schools and universities for girls.
Jan 11, 2024 – Detention of girls for dress code violations UNAMA reports the arrest of women and girls at schools for alleged hijab violations.
Jan 13, 2024 – Book bans in schools and libraries Taliban intelligence bans the sale and printing of 100 books; some have been removed from schools.
Jan 15, 2024 – Taliban supporters receive academic credentials Mass issuance of educational credentials to Taliban followers occurs.
Jan 17, 2024 – Taliban promotes ideological “re-education” for youth Leadership claims that students have been “brainwashed” and must undergo ideological reshaping.
Jan 20, 2024 – Brainwashing narrative reinforced in universities Minister of Higher Education pledges to “fix” youth ideology.
Feb 22, 2024 – Girls over 10 banned from school in Kandahar The Taliban orders schools to exclude girls aged 10 and older from attending classes.
Feb 23, 2024 – Conflicting Taliban statements on girls’ schools The Deputy Foreign Minister supports reopening girls’ schools, while the Minister of Higher Education opposes it.
Feb 25, 2024 – Acknowledgment of 700 ghost schools The Taliban Ministry of Education reports approximately 700 non-existent “ghost schools.”
Feb 28, 2024 – Reports of abuse include school children The UN includes school students in reports of abuse within educational settings.
February 22: In Kandahar, school leaders were instructed to prevent girls aged ten and older from attending classes below grade six. The same directive required girls in grades four to six to cover their faces on their way to school.
March 31: Several educational centers for girls in Kabul were closed after registering students above the sixth grade.
March 4, 2024 – Ban on criticism of Taliban education policies A Taliban official states that no one may criticize the regime.
March 8, 2024 – Calls to reopen schools in Bamyan Local scholars and professors advocate for the reopening of girls’ schools.
March 18, 2024 – China-Afghanistan joint institute established A technical/vocational cooperation agreement is signed.
April 23, 2024 – Schools converted to religious institutions 25 public schools are transformed into madrasas in Takhar and Badakhshan.
April: Kabul’s provincial education department issued a commitment form to private school administrators, agreeing to uphold the ongoing suspension of schooling for girls in grades seven through twelve.
May 27, 2024 – Taliban takes control of educational aid distribution Centralization of assistance impacts school support.
May 9, 2024 – Aid disruption affects students in Ghor 42,000 families lose assistance, impacting education.
June 09, 2024 – No schools in Helmand district The Deshu district lacks any functioning school infrastructure.
June 10, 2024 – Credentials exam results announced Evaluation of academic documents is conducted under the new system.
June 2024 – Regulation of private school fees The Taliban enforces control over private school fees.
June 4: The Bamyan education department mandated that schools teaching students from both the Hanafi and Jafari traditions must provide textbooks representing both jurisprudences, replacing single-tradition materials.
July 5, 2024 – Female professors’ salaries reduced Policies discourage women from teaching.
Aug 24, 2024 – Ban on online learning above grade 6 in Khost Restrictions are placed on radio and TV educational programs.
Aug 25, 2024 – Suspension of foreign scholarships The Taliban blocks scholarships to prevent “brainwashing.”
Aug 30, 2024 – Taliban expresses doubts about modern schooling ideology
August 24: The Acting Minister of Higher Education signled that the ban of girls’ education might turn permanent.
August 25: The Taliban have imposed restrictions on educational programs above grade six that are broadcast through local radio and television stations.
September 29: The Taliban has introduced the propaganda book, “Emarat-Shenasi” (Understanding the Emirate), to school students.
Sep 01, 2024 – Taliban leadership vows never to reopen girls’ schools An internal commitment is made not to reopen girls’ schools or universities.
Sep 02, 2024 – UN Security Council disagreement on Taliban education law
Sep 09, 2024 – Students’ tents destroyed in floods in Ghor Students in Firoz Koh lose temporary learning spaces.
Sep 13, 2024 – Testimony: 95% graduate illiterate Public school graduates reportedly lack basic literacy skills.
Sep 30, 2024 – Ban on foreign scholarships A Taliban leader orders a prohibition on all foreign studies.
October 03: Students in Kabul have prevented the celebration of Teachers’ Day.
November 13: In Uruzgan, community-based education centers run by international NGOs were ordered to close.
November 27: Accelerated learning programs funded by UNICEF in Bamyan—designed for out-of-school girls below grade six—were shut down by provincial authorities.
December 24: A letter from the Ministry of Education reiterated that girls above grade six remain barred from public and private schooling, referencing an earlier decree from the Emir and instructing Herat’s education officials to continue enforcing the suspension until further notice.
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References:
United States Institute of Peace. “Tracking the Taliban’s (Mis)Treatment of Women.” Accessible at: https://www.usip.org/tracking-talibans-mistreatment-women
Feminist Majority Foundation. “Taliban Edicts — Education.” Accessed at: https://feminist.org/our-work/afghan-women-and-girls/taliban-edicts/#education