UNESCO reports 2.4 million Afghan girls denied further education

UNESCO warned on Tuesday that the number of Afghan children deprived of formal education could climb to four million by 2030 if the Taliban does not reverse its current restrictions on schooling. The United Nations agency cited recent data showing that, following the regime’s 2022 ban on secondary education for girls and the curtailment of co‑educational classes, enrollment rates have plummeted across the country, leaving an estimated 2.5 million children already out of school.

The agency highlighted that the policy not only blocks girls from attending secondary schools but also forces many families to withdraw younger children from mixed‑gender classrooms, further eroding access to basic education. UNESCO urged the Taliban to restore inclusive schooling and to allow international aid groups to support teacher training and curriculum development, noting that without such measures the educational gap could widen dramatically, undermining the nation’s long‑term socioeconomic development.