A number of women at a home protest in capital Kabul called on the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for female students above grade six.
The protest was held by the Junbish Khodjosh Zanan Afghanistan. “Here a generation is deprived of its basic human rights. A generation of women is deprived of rights to education, work and social activities,” said Monsia Mubariz, a women’s rights activist.
“The closing of girls schools shows the Taliban’s lack of Taliban commitment to their promise,” said Zakia Zahat, a women’s rights activist.
This comes as the Ministry of Education says it is optimistic about efforts to reopen schools for girls in grade 7-12.
Aziz Ahmad Riyan, a spokesman for the Ministry of Education, said that the leadership of the Islamic Emirate has shown green lights for the reopening of girls’ schools. “The meeting on Wednesday was effective. Today’s meeting was effective. We cannot share all details but in general, a green light has shined and that there has been a move toward a positive side,” he said.
Riyan also said education for girls is important. “All the girls living in the country are like a sister or daughter of a member of the Islamic Emirate. Nobody wants to see a daughter or sister be deprived of education,” he said.
Earlier, the first Deputy Prime Minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, made hopeful remarks about the pending decision over education for female students beyond grade six, but he did not shed light on the status of the decision.—Tolo News
