As education helps individuals to become better citizens, attain higher paying jobs, shows the difference between good and bad, it also shows us the importance of hard work and at the same time helps us to grow and develop, thus we are able to shape a better society to live in by knowing and respecting laws and regulation. If all these benefits are derived from education, then why should it be exclusively for one gender and not for all?
Educational inequality is the unequal distribution of academic resources, including school funding, experienced teachers, textbooks, and technology. Communities lacking these resources are mostly populated with groups that have been historically oppressed as results of long-term conflicts or wars. The Afghan education system has been disturbed for more than three decades of sustained conflict. This is especially true in rural areas and for girls, despite recent progress in increasing enrolment. Amidst the Taliban seizing power in August 2021, they recently confirmed that while secondary schools were reopening, only boys would be allowed to return the classroom and even women teachers in the country would be unable to return to work.
Some of the causes of educational barriers and inequality of females in Afghanistan are, sociocultural barriers, poverty and financial barriers and insecurity and conflicts.
Socio cultural barriers
Social norms and traditional beliefs forbid access to secular education for many girls. Child marriage, although in decline, also remains a major obstacle to education. According to the Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey 2016-17, family disapproval is one of the three main reasons why girls and boys aged 6-24 years discontinue schooling, and this problem is more common among girls than boys (31% of girls versus only 1.5% of boys).
Furthermore, familial disapproval against ever entering school is also more so a problem for girls than boys (40 per cent compared to 3 per cent, respectively). Insecurity (real or perceived), including potential attacks from Armed Opposition Groups and harassment are another important barrier which affects girls much more than boys. The threat of sexual harassment, abuse, rape, and out of wedlock pregnancies are especially significant factors that deter parents from sending their daughters to school.
Poverty and financial barriers
Poverty tends to impact all other factors leading to exclusion from education, and almost all families and communities in Afghanistan face some degree of economic hardship. It influences decisions and opportunities relating to child labour, child marriage and children with disabilities, among others. Although school is free, there remain many indirect costs such as school supplies, clothes, and transportation. If a family cannot afford the indirect costs of education for all children in the household, it is more likely that girls are excluded.
Insecurity and conflicts
Violence and insecurity continue to remain prevalent and are even on the rise. This poses a particular set of problems for governance in Afghanistan’s education sector. Schools are a frequent target of attacks. The ongoing conflict has a strong impact on school closures, and disproportionately affects girls’ attendance. For instance, in 2018, armed conflicts caused school closures throughout villages in the Farah province and left 3,500 girls out of school. Even after schools re-opened, girls were reluctant and afraid to return. In addition, it poses problems in recruiting and keeping qualified teachers, especially female teachers which subsequently impacts girls’ enrolment.
Policies and strategies addressing barriers to education for adolescent girls.
Some policies and strategies that can solve the educational barriers and inequality of females in Afghanistan include; resolution and recognition between the de facto authorities and the International community, no compromises on women rights, and addressing insecurity and conflicts.
1. Recognition and resolution between the Taliban government and international communities
The De facto authorities together with various international communities should be in talks on ways to recover from grave losses of both natural and human resources, properties and thousands of loved ones perished. The community should therefore urge the Taliban authorities to seek ways of providing better life conditions and fulfilling human rights for its people as they have decided to shoulder that responsibility. Also the various International bodies such as the United Nations should continue to be in talks with the de facto authorities for the importance of females rights to education.
Ms. Mohammed, the Deputy UN chief who was speaking during a panel discussion on supporting a future for girls’ education in Afghanistan, held on the margins of the UN General Assembly. Prominent women advocates from Afghanistan and the international community also participated in the discussion, held both online and in person, and moderated by the BBC. When asked if international aid to Afghanistan could be conditional on education for women and girls, Ms. Mohammed responded “absolutely”, stating that the issue “continues to remain upfront” in ongoing discussions with the de facto authorities.
“This is where we have to have resolve: that recognition comes with your ability to be part of a global family. That has a certain set of values and rights that must be adhered to. And education is up front and centre, especially for girls and for women.”
The deputy UN chief urged the international community to draw on Afghan women’s expertise and support them in preventing a reversal of two decades of gains in girls’ education.
2. No compromises on women’s rights
Nobel Peace Prize laureate and UN Messenger of Peace, Malala Yousafzai feared the return of atrocities targeting women, as well as terrorism and extremism, both in Afghanistan and the region. She urged the international community to ensure women’s rights are upheld.
She stated “We cannot make compromises on the protection of women’s rights and on the protection of human dignity. This is a commitment that the UN has made, that they are there to work for the protection of human dignity”.
“So now is the time that we stick to that commitment and ensure that their rights in government are protected. And one of those important rights is the right to education” she said.
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