In Afghanistan, an education ban imposed by the Taliban has forced teenage girls, like 15-year-old Amina, to seek alternative schooling options at religious institutions known as madrassas. Amina dreams of becoming a doctor, but the closure of schools for girls has left her and over a million others with few choices. The Al-Hadith madrassa in Kabul, founded by Amina's brother, is among few places providing education, albeit limited. As concerns grow over the content taught in these madrassas, many argue that they cannot replace mainstream education. Nevertheless, students like Hadiya and Safia strive to make the best out of their situation, while advocacy continues for broader educational opportunities for girls.
Teenage Girls in Afghanistan Seek Education in Madrassas Amid School Ban
Teenage Girls in Afghanistan Seek Education in Madrassas Amid School Ban
Teenage Afghan girls, facing a ban on education, find refuge in madrassas as their only hope for learning.
Despite the challenges, Amina holds on to hope, believing schools will reopen one day. "And I will realize my dream of becoming a heart surgeon," she insists.
The article text.
Amina will never forget the moment her childhood changed. She was just 12 years old when she was told she could no longer go to school like boys. The new school year began on Saturday in Afghanistan but for the fourth consecutive year, girls over 12 were barred from attending classes. "All my dreams were shattered," she says, her voice fragile and filled with emotion.
Amina, now 15, has always wanted to become a doctor. As a little girl, she suffered from a heart defect and underwent surgery. The surgeon who saved her life was a woman – an image that stayed with her and inspired her to take her studies seriously. However, when the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan in 2021, Amina's dream was abruptly put on hold. "When my dad told me the schools were closed, I was really sad. It was a very bad feeling," she says quietly. "I wanted to get an education so that I could become a doctor." The restrictions on education for teenage girls imposed by the Taliban have affected more than one million girls, according to Unicef, the UN's children's agency.
Now, madrassas – religious centres focused on Islamic teachings – have become the only way for many women and teenage girls to access education. However, those whose families can afford private tuition may still have access to subjects like maths, science, and languages. While madrassas are seen as a means to provide some educational opportunities, there are concerns regarding the potential for brainwashing. Amina dreams of becoming a doctor.
I meet Amina in the dimly-lit basement of Al-Hadith madrassa in Kabul, a newly established private educational centre serving around 280 female students of various ages. The basement is cold, with cardboard walls and a sharp chill in the air. After chatting for about 10 minutes, our toes are already going numb. Al-Hadith madrassa was founded a year ago by Amina's brother, Hamid, who felt compelled to act after seeing the toll that the education ban had taken on her.
"When girls were denied education, my sister's dream of becoming a heart surgeon was crushed, significantly affecting her wellbeing," says Hamid, who is in his early thirties. "Having the chance to go back to school, as well as learning midwifery and first aid, made her feel much better about her future." Afghanistan remains the only country where women and girls are banned from secondary and higher education. The Taliban government originally suggested that the prohibition would be temporary, contingent on certain conditions, such as an "Islamic" curriculum. However, no progress has been made toward reopening schools for older girls.
A January 2025 report by the Afghanistan Centre for Human Rights suggested that madrassas are being used to further the Taliban's ideological goals, alleging that "extremist content" has been integrated into their curriculum. The report claims that textbooks endorsed by the Taliban promote their political and military activities and prohibit the mixing of men and women, while promoting the enforced wearing of the hijab. The Afghan Centre for Human Rights has branded the ban on older girls attending school as a "systematic and targeted violation" of their right to quality education.
Before the Taliban's return, the number of registered madrassas was estimated at around 5,000, focusing on religious education. However, many have since expanded to teach subjects like chemistry, physics, mathematics, and geography, as well as languages such as Dari, Pashto, and English. Despite attempts to include midwifery and first aid training, the Taliban banned medical training for women in December last year. Hamid is dedicated to providing an education that blends religious and academic subjects for secondary school-age girls. "Socialising with other girls again made my sister much happier," he says with a smile, clearly proud of her resilience.
We visit another independently-run madrassa in Kabul. The Shaikh Abdul Qadr Jilani madrassa educates over 1,800 girls and women aged five to 45. Classes are organized by student ability rather than age. Like Al-Hadith madrassa, it is freezing cold, and the building has no heating; some classrooms lack doors and windows. In one large room, two Quran classes and a sewing class take place simultaneously, as a group of girls in hijabs and black face masks sit cross-legged on the carpet. The only heat source in the school is a small electric radiator in the second-floor director’s office, managed by Mohammad Ibrahim Barakzai.
Mr. Barakzai explains that both academic subjects and religious studies are taught. However, when I inquire about evidence of that, the staff search for a while before producing a few tattered math and science textbooks, while the classrooms are stocked with religious texts. This madrassa has both formal and informal sections, where the formal part covers subjects like languages, history, and science, while the informal section focuses on Quranic studies and practical skills like tailoring. Notably, graduates from the informal section outnumber those from the formal section by ten to one.
Hadiya, 20, recently graduated after studying a range of subjects, including math, physics, chemistry, and geography. She speaks passionately about science, declaring, "I love science. It's all about matter and how these concepts relate to the world around me." Now teaching the Quran at the madrassa, she notes there was not enough demand for her favorite subjects. Safia, also 20, teaches Pashto at Al-Hadith madrassa, believing that girls in religious centres can enhance their personal development. She emphasizes the importance of studying Fiqh, the Islamic legal framework vital for daily Muslim practices.
Safia acknowledges that madrassas cannot substitute for mainstream schools and universities. "The closure of these establishments would lead to a gradual decline in knowledge within Afghanistan," she warns. Tawqa, a 13-year-old student at the Shaikh Abdul Qadr Jilani madrassa, attends classes alongside her older sister. "Religious subjects are my favorite," she shares. "I like learning what kind of hijab a woman should wear and how to treat her family kindly." Tawqa aspires to become a religious missionary.
Concerns about the Taliban’s "madrassa-style" education arise from Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, who emphasizes the need for educational opportunities for girls beyond sixth grade. He warns that limited education, combined with high unemployment and poverty, could foster radical ideologies and increase the risk of homegrown terrorism, threatening regional and global stability.
According to the Taliban Ministry of Education, approximately three million students in Afghanistan are enrolled in religious educational centres, with promises to reopen girls' schools under specific conditions yet to be fulfilled. Despite facing numerous challenges, including health struggles and the education ban, Amina holds onto hope. "I still believe that one day the Taliban will allow schools and universities to reopen," she states with conviction. "And I will realize my dream of becoming a heart surgeon."
The article text.
Amina will never forget the moment her childhood changed. She was just 12 years old when she was told she could no longer go to school like boys. The new school year began on Saturday in Afghanistan but for the fourth consecutive year, girls over 12 were barred from attending classes. "All my dreams were shattered," she says, her voice fragile and filled with emotion.
Amina, now 15, has always wanted to become a doctor. As a little girl, she suffered from a heart defect and underwent surgery. The surgeon who saved her life was a woman – an image that stayed with her and inspired her to take her studies seriously. However, when the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan in 2021, Amina's dream was abruptly put on hold. "When my dad told me the schools were closed, I was really sad. It was a very bad feeling," she says quietly. "I wanted to get an education so that I could become a doctor." The restrictions on education for teenage girls imposed by the Taliban have affected more than one million girls, according to Unicef, the UN's children's agency.
Now, madrassas – religious centres focused on Islamic teachings – have become the only way for many women and teenage girls to access education. However, those whose families can afford private tuition may still have access to subjects like maths, science, and languages. While madrassas are seen as a means to provide some educational opportunities, there are concerns regarding the potential for brainwashing. Amina dreams of becoming a doctor.
I meet Amina in the dimly-lit basement of Al-Hadith madrassa in Kabul, a newly established private educational centre serving around 280 female students of various ages. The basement is cold, with cardboard walls and a sharp chill in the air. After chatting for about 10 minutes, our toes are already going numb. Al-Hadith madrassa was founded a year ago by Amina's brother, Hamid, who felt compelled to act after seeing the toll that the education ban had taken on her.
"When girls were denied education, my sister's dream of becoming a heart surgeon was crushed, significantly affecting her wellbeing," says Hamid, who is in his early thirties. "Having the chance to go back to school, as well as learning midwifery and first aid, made her feel much better about her future." Afghanistan remains the only country where women and girls are banned from secondary and higher education. The Taliban government originally suggested that the prohibition would be temporary, contingent on certain conditions, such as an "Islamic" curriculum. However, no progress has been made toward reopening schools for older girls.
A January 2025 report by the Afghanistan Centre for Human Rights suggested that madrassas are being used to further the Taliban's ideological goals, alleging that "extremist content" has been integrated into their curriculum. The report claims that textbooks endorsed by the Taliban promote their political and military activities and prohibit the mixing of men and women, while promoting the enforced wearing of the hijab. The Afghan Centre for Human Rights has branded the ban on older girls attending school as a "systematic and targeted violation" of their right to quality education.
Before the Taliban's return, the number of registered madrassas was estimated at around 5,000, focusing on religious education. However, many have since expanded to teach subjects like chemistry, physics, mathematics, and geography, as well as languages such as Dari, Pashto, and English. Despite attempts to include midwifery and first aid training, the Taliban banned medical training for women in December last year. Hamid is dedicated to providing an education that blends religious and academic subjects for secondary school-age girls. "Socialising with other girls again made my sister much happier," he says with a smile, clearly proud of her resilience.
We visit another independently-run madrassa in Kabul. The Shaikh Abdul Qadr Jilani madrassa educates over 1,800 girls and women aged five to 45. Classes are organized by student ability rather than age. Like Al-Hadith madrassa, it is freezing cold, and the building has no heating; some classrooms lack doors and windows. In one large room, two Quran classes and a sewing class take place simultaneously, as a group of girls in hijabs and black face masks sit cross-legged on the carpet. The only heat source in the school is a small electric radiator in the second-floor director’s office, managed by Mohammad Ibrahim Barakzai.
Mr. Barakzai explains that both academic subjects and religious studies are taught. However, when I inquire about evidence of that, the staff search for a while before producing a few tattered math and science textbooks, while the classrooms are stocked with religious texts. This madrassa has both formal and informal sections, where the formal part covers subjects like languages, history, and science, while the informal section focuses on Quranic studies and practical skills like tailoring. Notably, graduates from the informal section outnumber those from the formal section by ten to one.
Hadiya, 20, recently graduated after studying a range of subjects, including math, physics, chemistry, and geography. She speaks passionately about science, declaring, "I love science. It's all about matter and how these concepts relate to the world around me." Now teaching the Quran at the madrassa, she notes there was not enough demand for her favorite subjects. Safia, also 20, teaches Pashto at Al-Hadith madrassa, believing that girls in religious centres can enhance their personal development. She emphasizes the importance of studying Fiqh, the Islamic legal framework vital for daily Muslim practices.
Safia acknowledges that madrassas cannot substitute for mainstream schools and universities. "The closure of these establishments would lead to a gradual decline in knowledge within Afghanistan," she warns. Tawqa, a 13-year-old student at the Shaikh Abdul Qadr Jilani madrassa, attends classes alongside her older sister. "Religious subjects are my favorite," she shares. "I like learning what kind of hijab a woman should wear and how to treat her family kindly." Tawqa aspires to become a religious missionary.
Concerns about the Taliban’s "madrassa-style" education arise from Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, who emphasizes the need for educational opportunities for girls beyond sixth grade. He warns that limited education, combined with high unemployment and poverty, could foster radical ideologies and increase the risk of homegrown terrorism, threatening regional and global stability.
According to the Taliban Ministry of Education, approximately three million students in Afghanistan are enrolled in religious educational centres, with promises to reopen girls' schools under specific conditions yet to be fulfilled. Despite facing numerous challenges, including health struggles and the education ban, Amina holds onto hope. "I still believe that one day the Taliban will allow schools and universities to reopen," she states with conviction. "And I will realize my dream of becoming a heart surgeon."
