Afghan girls in the southwestern province Farah said they are increasingly anxious over their schools being closed, saying that over two months have passed since the beginning of the school year.
Ziba, a 12-grade student, said she is getting more upset every day, although she keeps studying at home.
Ziba called on the Islamic Emirate to keep the doors of schools open for girls over grade six. “Effective plans should be made to reopen girls’ school so girls, like boys, can attend school,” said Ziba
“During the three years, students studied only one year, they missed two years, so we ask the Islamic Emirate to open schools for girls,” said Forozan, a women’s rights activist in Farah.
Meanwhile, residents of Farah also criticized the delay in reopening secondary schools for Afghan girls.
“Islam orders that both male and females have the right to be educated, therefore, we ask the government to open schools,” said Shir Ahmad, a resident.
Farah province has 372 schools, of which 81 are dedicated to girls.
At the same time, the Islamic Emirate said Thursday that it has formed a committee of eight members to facilitate the reopening of girls’ schools.
The committee will be chaired by the Supreme Judge, Abdul Hakim Haqqani, according to Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.
The female Afghan students above grade six have been banned from going to school for more than 250 days.
More than 60 female students have graduated from a professional training center in Kabul.
Many young women turned to learning craft skills after the girls’ schools above grade six were closed.
The students meanwhile called on the Islamic Emirate to reopen the schools for female students in grade 7-12.
“The Islamic Emirate closed schools for the girls. We call on the Islamic Emirate to reopen the schools as soon as possible,” said Najiba, a student.
“We want our rights (education) under any kind of situation. We want to graduate from school or university as we did today,” said Aisha, a student.
The participants in the graduation ceremony also urged the current government to reopen schools for girls beyond grade six.
“We hope the schools for girls be reopened soon and the officials of the Islamic Emirate pay attention to this,” said Samiullah Stanikzai, head of a people’s union in Arzan Kimat area of Kabul city.
“The center had two parts, handicrafts and tailoring. Our sisters have been trained over the past months,” said Ahmad Gul, leader of a local community.
