Amid the passage of more than 450 days, the doors of higher education institutions in Afghanistan continue to remain shut for female students, with no indication of a forthcoming reopening, as per a report by TOLO News. Expressing their discontent, young women studying in these institutions underscore the considerable delay in their academic journey, urging the interim Taliban-led administration to prioritize the resumption of academic activities for them this year.

Representing the collective voice of numerous others, Khadijah underscores, “The education of young women carries profound significance; it mirrors the literacy and progression of entire households. Neglecting this aspect imperils the educational and societal advancement at large,” according to TOLO News.

Echoing these sentiments, Narow fervently appeals, “We beseech the authorities to open the doors of schools and universities to female students, recognizing that their education plays a pivotal role in fostering a robust and forward-looking society.”

Similar apprehensions are articulated by faculty members of these universities, who harbor concerns regarding the prolonged closure’s detrimental impact on the nation’s advancement. Zakiullah Mohammadi, a distinguished scholar, affirms, “Ensuring equitable access to education serves as the bedrock for efficacious governance and societal progress.”

During deliberations with the Norwegian charge d’affaires, former President Hamid Karzai accentuated the pressing need to resume educational activities for female students. Although there has been no recent announcement from the Taliban regarding the reopening, assurances from the interim government regarding girls’ educational rights remain ingrained in memory.

Ever since the Taliban’s resurgence, schools have been off-limits for girls beyond the sixth grade, and now, more than a year later, female students find themselves deprived of access to higher education as well, as per TOLO News.