Afghan fathers mourn loss of daughters' education as Taliban ban keeps girls from secondary school.

The United Nations says that at least one million Afghan girls are directly affected by a ban on secondary schooling that the Taliban imposed in March 2022, after universities were closed later that year. A survey of Afghan men conducted by the UN last year found that 9 out of 10 believe it is important for girls to attend secondary school, and nearly two thirds consider it a pious duty for a father to support his daughter’s education. In discussions with AFP, fathers described how they are turning to clandestine learning options. One engineer, whose wife is a former secondary‑school maths teacher, said he did not expect that “one day my daughters would be illiterate.” A devout father remarked: “you will never find in the Quran that education is only for men.” Another father, who has four daughters, explained that stopping at the sixth grade would leave them “effectively illiterate for the demands of the 21st century.” Some families are paying for private institutions that combine religious instruction with general subjects. One father in Kabul said the underground school charges about 10,000 Afghanis ($153) per month for two daughters and that there is no official graduation certificate. He also said he fears authorities might inspect the school and “take my daughters into custody.” Even those who previously planned to move abroad face new barriers. An ex‑employee of an international organisation said he is unable to leave the country because international visas are blocked, and the recent closure of the Afghan‑Pakistan border has closed a potential route to private schools in neighbouring Pakistan. The Taliban authorities have not responded to AFP questions about the ban, but officials insist it is temporary. The continuing lack of official support has made it increasingly difficult for parents to find sustainable educational options for their daughters.