4 Million Afghan Children Out Of School Due ToTaliban Restrictions, Says UN
Nearly 4 million children in Afghanistan are currently out of school, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Sunday.
Nearly 4 million children in Afghanistan are currently out of school, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Sunday.
A lack of proper school buildings, access to clean water, sanitation facilities and a shortage of qualified teachers particularly women are among the key factors keeping children out of the classroom, the agency said.
Many children are also forced to work to support their families as economic hardship continues to deepen across the country.
The ongoing ban on education for girls has drawn widespread international condemnation. Political leaders, human rights groups including Amnesty International and UN agencies have repeatedly called on the Taliban to reopen schools for girls.
The Taliban has ignored those appeals and, for the fourth consecutive year, continues to bar girls from attending school beyond sixth grade, as well as from pursuing higher education at universities.
UNICEF has previously warned that the ban will have catastrophic consequences for Afghanistan’s future. The agency stressed that the Taliban’s decision jeopardises the lives and prospects of millions of women and girls.
