An Afghan girl has described the despair of losing access to education under Taliban rule, warning that the denial of schooling to girls will undermine the country's prospects for development. In a personal essay, the writer, identified as S. Haidari, recounted how she pursued education despite escalating conflict in Afghanistan, eventually enrolling in a midwifery institute after other educational pathways closed to girls.
Haidari said that after the Taliban took control of the country in August 2021, the situation became increasingly restrictive. She and her family relocated to another city hoping to continue her studies, but found educational doors closed to girls there as well. She was able to attend the midwifery institute temporarily, but the Taliban subsequently ordered the closure of all educational institutions and banned girls from studying in any field.
The author expressed frustration that the international community has not intervened to address the restrictions. "Neighboring countries and the international community continued to turn a blind eye," she wrote, adding that she and her peers "were stripped of everything — even our most basic human rights."
Despite the obstacles, Haidari said she continues to hold onto her dreams. She argued that denying Afghan girls education would harm not only their individual futures but also Afghan society as a whole, which she said would "lose its chance for a better tomorrow" without educated female citizens.
