2.4 Million Afghan Girls Are Not Allowed to Study at Secondary School Five Years After the Return of the Taliban, UNESCO

Five years after the Taliban took control in Afghanistan, there are approximately 2.4 million Afghan girls who cannot study at secondary schools, according to UNESCO. UNESCO once again calls for the immediate and unconditional restoration of the rights of girls and women to continue education. 

These continual prohibitions have led to one of the most severe education crises in the world. At present, Afghanistan is the only country where girls and women cannot officially pursue secondary and higher education, says UNESCO and UNICEF. 

Important Facts About the Education of Afghan Girls 

Important information	Description
Affected girls	2.4 million
Level of education	Secondary school
Return of Taliban	August 2021
Prohibition of education	Preventing girls from continuing education beyond Grade 6
Higher education	Preventing women and girls from attending universities
Situation now	Restrictions in place
Main organization	UNESCO
Economic issue	Afghanistan’s future workforce

The Crisis of Education of Afghan Girls 

Since the Taliban has taken power in August 2021, many changes related to girls’ access to education in Afghanistan have happened. Although the education of girls continues to be provided in primary schools, the girls are now prevented from studying beyond Grade 6. 

According to UNESCO, the imposed prohibitions negate all the achievements reached in this sphere in previous years. Prior to the take-over of Taliban, there were almost 1 million girls enrolled into secondary schools by 2021. Five years later, millions of girls do not have an opportunity to continue education anymore. 

In addition to that, since the girls will not receive any qualifications and will not develop their professional skills, Afghan girls deprived of an opportunity to study at secondary schools also lose the possibility to study at university or start working. 

When Did the Taliban Ban Secondary Education for Afghan Girls? 

Secondary education for Afghan girls beyond Grade 6 was banned by the Taliban immediately after taking power. This prohibition has been imposed for many years as new generations of girls grew up and cannot receive secondary education now. 

The UNICEF report, issued in January 2026, says that 2.2 million adolescent girls are denied their right to attend secondary schools. This figure increased over time, as girls reached the age when they are expected to study in secondary schools. 

Thus, the protracted character of the ban means that the problem affects not only students who were already in educational establishments before the imposition of restrictions. Young people who reached the age of attending secondary schools are affected by the issue too. 

Afghanistan Is the Only Country Which Has Such an Educational Ban 

According to the reports of UNESCO, Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls and women officially cannot receive secondary and higher education. Such restrictions imposed by the Taliban are regarded by the organization as the violation of the basic human right to education. 

Moreover, women and girls are restricted in many spheres of social activity. According to UNESCO, such restrictions progressively limited the possibilities of the representatives of such sex and resulted in the exclusion of them from the Afghan society. 

Thus, the restrictions imposed on women and girls are not only related to the right to get an education but rather a part of the whole system of limitations. 

Effect on the Whole Generation 

There are millions of Afghan girls who have lost years during which they should have been studying at secondary schools, without receiving any education at all. 

During this period, young people have missed the time when they can learn how to read, gain some knowledge of mathematics, science and other disciplines which would help them to receive higher education or start their career in the future. 

As it was noted earlier in reports issued by UNICEF, the prolonged denial of the right to education increases the chance of early marriage and restricts the future work opportunities of girls. 

Restrictions on Education Pose Danger to the Future Workforce of Afghanistan 

Consequences of the secondary school ban may appear some day in all spheres of Afghan economy and provision of public services. 

According to the estimation issued by UNICEF in 2026, such restrictions on education and employment cause losses of AFN 5.3 billion or about US$84 million per year for the country. 

The same report states that Afghanistan is going to lose 20,000 female teachers and 5,400 health care workers by 2030. 

Why Are Female Teachers and Health Workers So Important? 

Limited number of educated women may affect quite badly those spheres that need female specialists. 

First of all, female teachers can teach girls, while female health care workers are very important for provision of health care services for women and children in a society where social and cultural restrictions do not allow interacting with male specialists. 

According to UNICEF’s 2026 analysis, the restrictions on girls’ rights to education may cause losses of thousands of potential female specialists including teachers, nurses, doctors, midwives and other workers. 

UNESCO Demands Restoration of Girls’ Right to Education 

UNESCO has made demands for the full and unconditional restoration of the right to education for Afghan girls and women. 

When secondary and higher education becomes inaccessible to Afghan girls and women, UNESCO continues providing support to alternative ways of studying including literacy and skills development courses and others. 

But even though alternative ways of study are useful, they cannot substitute regular secondary and higher education. 

UNESCO and other international organizations are still making one major demand – Afghan girls should return to schools. 

What Is the Cost of Keeping Girls Away from School? 

Ban on education costs not only by its current consequences but also by its future negative impact on future generations. 

Each year of deprivation of education contributes to further losses and denies girls of qualifications necessary to become qualified specialists. 

According to UNICEF’s 2026 analysis, the economic losses are already apparent but the predicted shortage of female teachers and health workers prove that these restrictions may affect the performance of Afghan public sector in the future. 

That is why, for Afghanistan the issue of girls’ education is not only about current opportunity of Afghan girls to attend schools. This issue is also about the future of workforce, economy and society in general. 

What May Happen in Case of Remaining Restrictions? 

If the restrictions will remain, the number of girls reaching secondary school age and unable to receive any formal education will increase. 

According to UNICEF’s 2026 analysis, during five years of existence of those decrees at least 1 million girls had been denied secondary education and there was the prediction that the number of affected girls would exceed 2 million till 2030. 

The projection given above should not be confused with 2.4 million current estimate made by UNESCO in August 2026. Though the figures are estimated in different periods of time and under different circumstances, they show how severe the current education crisis in Afghanistan is. 

The Ban on University Education for Afghan Women 

In addition to prohibition of secondary education, there were also restrictions on university education. In December 2022, Taliban imposed restrictions and banned women from universities in order to limit their educational opportunities. 

Thus, Afghan girls who have been prohibited from continuing their education after Grade 6 have difficulties in gaining higher education. 

According to UNESCO, it is necessary to provide Afghan girls with access to both secondary and higher education without any limitations. 

Education Restrictions May Weaken the Quality of Education in Schools 

Education restrictions not only violate women’s rights, but also threaten the quality of the education system in Afghanistan. 

UNESCO said that education restrictions may have a long-lasting influence on the education system in Afghanistan because the absence of highly qualified teachers will inevitably lead to the reduction in educational services provided to students, particularly to girls. 

As was stated in the analysis conducted by UNICEF in April 2026, if education restrictions and prohibition on women’s employment in Afghanistan will not be lifted, Afghanistan will lose up to 20,000 female teachers and 5,400 healthcare workers by 2030. 

It is necessary to note that this problem is very important since current Afghan girls will become the workforce in the future. 

Economic Impact of Keeping Girls out of Education 

The problem of education in Afghanistan became an economic one too. 

In its analysis of 2026, UNICEF Innocenti Research Center discovered that current education restrictions and prohibition to participate in labor market cost Afghanistan at least AFN 5.3 billion, or $84 million annually, which makes around 0.5% of Afghanistan’s GDP in 2023. 

Such restrictions may result in reduction of the amount of human capital and consequently economic growth in the future. 

Banning secondary education reduces the number of qualified women in various fields because there will be no teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers, etc. 

Healthcare Sector May Lose the Number of Qualified Women 

Such restrictions affect not only the education system but also the healthcare sector of Afghanistan. 

According to the study conducted by UNICEF, up to 5,400 health care professionals may be lost until 2030, alongside with 20,000 teachers. 

Female health care workers play a crucial role in Afghanistan due to numerous restrictions of women receiving care from male specialists. 

Therefore, the consequences of such restrictions may eventually affect the access to healthcare services for women and children in Afghanistan. 

Community-Based Education Provides Some Alternatives for Girls 

However, despite the restrictions, there are other possibilities of obtaining an education for Afghan girls. 

According to UNESCO, UNICEF still provides some alternative learning methods including community-based education and literacy programs. There are education programs held in the community or at home and provide girls the chance to learn despite banning secondary education. 

These types of education programs may give numerous learning opportunities to the students who are unable to attend formal schools. However, these alternative forms of education cannot replace formal secondary and university education. 

The formal education provides students with curriculum, exams, qualifications and access to further education and employment. 

Afghan Girls Experience Years of Lost Educational Opportunities 

The longer the restrictions last, the bigger the gap becomes. 

The girl who was 12 during the banning of the secondary education may lose several crucial years of her education in the system of formal schools. The same concerns girls from Grade 7. 

According to UNICEF, in 2025, more than 2.2 million adolescent girls may be deprived of education. 

According to the most recent numbers provided by UNESCO, 2.4 million girls are currently deprived of secondary education. 

Appeals to Lift the Ban Have Proven Frustrating Globally 

Numerous international appeals have been made to the Taliban leaders to allow education of Afghan girls. 

However, despite numerous international pressures, the ban remains in force. 

According to UNESCO, it is considered to be a serious breach of human rights that demands immediate response for restoration of education for women and girls. 

This issue has become one of the major topics of the international discussions on the problems concerning women’s rights and the future of Afghanistan. 

Nevertheless, international appeals have not brought any results in terms of reopening of secondary schools for girls in Afghanistan. 

What Are the Consequences for the Country? 

This problem has a potential of having an influence on the country for decades. 

It is clear that the consequences of it are the millions of girls who are not able to attend school. There might also be consequences related to the low number of educated women among specialists, low number of female teachers and healthcare workers, insufficient economic development and access to different services and care. 

The economic consequences of the situation have been evaluated by UNICEF, and the updated number of affected girls has been provided by UNESCO. 

Thus, this issue is not only the matter of human rights for Afghanistan. It is closely related to its educational system, economic situation, healthcare services and workforce. 

Why Is it so Important to Educate Afghan Girls? 

Education allows children to gain knowledge and skills that may shape their future. 

In the case of Afghan girls, education is the factor that allows them to continue their education and engage into professional activities or become teachers, doctors, nurses and others specialists. 

UNICEF has noted that Afghanistan risks to loose all its female professionals due to the lack of educated girls. 

Conclusion 

Almost five years after the seizure of power by the Taliban, according to UNESCO, an estimated 2.4 million Afghan girls remain prohibited from secondary education. The ban has reversed years of educational achievements and has made Afghanistan the only nation where girls and women are banned from secondary and tertiary education. 

These are going to affect the country in many aspects far beyond the classroom. UNICEF warned about the potential loss of thousands of female teachers and healthcare specialists, with the UNICEF estimate made in the period up to 2026 calculating the cost of the restrictions for the women’s education and labour market participation for Afghanistan to amount to at least $84 million annually. 

UNESCO still calls for the immediate and unconditional restoration of the education for Afghan girls and women. Without reopening secondary schools and universities to girls, millions of Afghan women and girls are going to miss the chance of getting an education and being able to choose their future professions. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. How many Afghan girls are currently deprived of secondary education?

According to UNESCO, there are an estimated 2.4 million Afghan girls currently deprived of secondary education due to the Taliban takeover. 

2. When did the Taliban take control of Afghanistan again?

The Taliban regained the control over Afghanistan in August 2021 when the U.S. and its allies pulled out their forces from Afghanistan. 

3. When did Afghan girls get forbidden to attend secondary schools?

The Taliban prohibited secondary education for girls above Grade 6 in March 2022, making attendance of Afghan girls in secondary schools impossible. 

4. Can Afghan girls go to primary school?

Yes, Afghan girls can still go to primary schools but cannot attend secondary schools above Grade 6. 

5. Can women attend universities in Afghanistan?

No, women are currently banned from attending universities since December 2022. 

6. Why is the education ban so crucial for Afghanistan?

The education ban is keeping millions of girls from receiving further education which can lead to serious consequences for the Afghan workforce, economy, educational institutions and healthcare system. 

7. What is the annual cost of education restrictions to Afghanistan?

According to UNICEF, the restrictions on women’s education and labour market participation cost Afghanistan at least $84 million annually. 

8. Is Afghanistan going to lose its female teachers and healthcare specialists?

Undoubtedly, according to the information provided by UNICEF, Afghanistan may be deprived of around 20,000 women teachers and 5,400 healthcare specialists till 2030 due to the implementation of these policies. 

9. What is expected by UNESCO?

It is necessary to restore the opportunity for girls and women to receive secondary and higher education immediately and unconditionally. 

10. Since when have the problems of girls’ education been there in Afghanistan?

The Taliban regime has come to power in 2021; however, the restrictions related to secondary education have started from 2022. That means that by August 2026, several years have passed.