By: Avery Oquinn
There are currently over 3 million children out of school in Afghanistan.
Out of these 3 million, 60 percent are female. Girls are allowed to go to school for only a few years or are barred from receiving education entirely in certain areas under Taliban control. When girls do go to school they go to different school than boy and only have female teachers. Females do not get the same level of education as males do. Female schools are often understaffed and underpaid teachers find it difficult to give these girl good educations due to lack of supplies and resources. When we asked girls at Hillgrove how these facts made them feel Chloe Stacy said, “it makes me appreciate my education more, and it makes me want to put more effort into my work because many people would dream to get a good education and the chances I'm given everyday.” even though girls in Afghanistan are allowed to go to school some do not get the chance at all, Afghanistan has a very traditional way of life, woman get married off young and are only supposed to cook, clean, and have babies. Nearly 17 percent of Afghan girls get married before they turn 15, meaning they leave school to start a life so young.
Urban areas have seen improvement in women's rights over the past decade, but in some rural areas women are still oppressed today just as much as they were under the Taliban. The Taliban no longer has complete control of Afghanistan but they still control a lot of the country. After the Soviet war, the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan, women were forbidden to many everyday things like, go outside without a male chaperone, such as a husband, father, or older brother. They could not go outside without a burqa (a piece of clothing that covers a women's entire body.) Women were also not allowed to have jobs, but a few women in health care were allowed to keep their jobs because woman weren't allowed to go to male doctors. Everything was segregated and woman were loosing their rights and their dignity. The Taliban finally allowed girls to go to all girls schools, but recently in august 2022, The Taliban backtracked on their promise to allow young women to get an education, closing girls high schools, only allowing an education up to 6th grade. Mckenzie Glass said, “if the US government just randomly one day decided I could no longer get a secondary education I would feel betrayed, and disappointed because I value my future and my education and I would want my government to as well.” many people believe one group of men should not have the ability to take away female rights just because that what they believe. The citizens of Afghanistan do not get a say on certain aspects of their life, and people believe this needs to change.
The education system has been destroyed by years of consistent conflict and political instability. This constant state of war effects these kids education because people are more worried about staying safe than getting educations, one student at Hillgrove said “their main priorities in war wont be getting their kids, they will keep their kids home to keep them safe.” which is true, when there are bombs and rockets flying through your city your focus wont be an education. But the people who do get educations in these areas under attack are often going to dingy buildings with little to no resources and the government doesn’t fund their education because all their money id going to war. So is it even worth it to risk your life going to school in war for a mediocre education?
There are currently over 3 million children out of school in Afghanistan.
Out of these 3 million, 60 percent are female. Girls are allowed to go to school for only a few years or are barred from receiving education entirely in certain areas under Taliban control. When girls do go to school they go to different school than boy and only have female teachers. Females do not get the same level of education as males do. Female schools are often understaffed and underpaid teachers find it difficult to give these girl good educations due to lack of supplies and resources. When we asked girls at Hillgrove how these facts made them feel Chloe Stacy said, “it makes me appreciate my education more, and it makes me want to put more effort into my work because many people would dream to get a good education and the chances I'm given everyday.” even though girls in Afghanistan are allowed to go to school some do not get the chance at all, Afghanistan has a very traditional way of life, woman get married off young and are only supposed to cook, clean, and have babies. Nearly 17 percent of Afghan girls get married before they turn 15, meaning they leave school to start a life so young.
Urban areas have seen improvement in women's rights over the past decade, but in some rural areas women are still oppressed today just as much as they were under the Taliban. The Taliban no longer has complete control of Afghanistan but they still control a lot of the country. After the Soviet war, the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan, women were forbidden to many everyday things like, go outside without a male chaperone, such as a husband, father, or older brother. They could not go outside without a burqa (a piece of clothing that covers a women's entire body.) Women were also not allowed to have jobs, but a few women in health care were allowed to keep their jobs because woman weren't allowed to go to male doctors. Everything was segregated and woman were loosing their rights and their dignity. The Taliban finally allowed girls to go to all girls schools, but recently in august 2022, The Taliban backtracked on their promise to allow young women to get an education, closing girls high schools, only allowing an education up to 6th grade. Mckenzie Glass said, “if the US government just randomly one day decided I could no longer get a secondary education I would feel betrayed, and disappointed because I value my future and my education and I would want my government to as well.” many people believe one group of men should not have the ability to take away female rights just because that what they believe. The citizens of Afghanistan do not get a say on certain aspects of their life, and people believe this needs to change.
The education system has been destroyed by years of consistent conflict and political instability. This constant state of war effects these kids education because people are more worried about staying safe than getting educations, one student at Hillgrove said “their main priorities in war wont be getting their kids, they will keep their kids home to keep them safe.” which is true, when there are bombs and rockets flying through your city your focus wont be an education. But the people who do get educations in these areas under attack are often going to dingy buildings with little to no resources and the government doesn’t fund their education because all their money id going to war. So is it even worth it to risk your life going to school in war for a mediocre education?
