Afghanistan: Girls and women denied education

Kabul, Afghanistan, 2025 — Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, Afghanistan has become the only country in the world where girls and women are systematically barred from formal education. Secondary schools, universities, and even informal learning centers for women and girls have been shut down, erasing decades of progress in female education.

Education under siege

The ban on girls' education beyond primary school has affected more than 2.5 million school-age girls. Women have also been excluded from universities and vocational training, cutting off any path to professional careers or economic independence. The impact is devastating not only for individuals but for the entire country's future.

Human rights organizations, including the United Nations, have repeatedly called on Afghan authorities to reverse these restrictions, but appeals have so far gone unanswered. In the meantime, girls and young women across the country watch their dreams of becoming doctors, engineers, teachers, and leaders dissolve.

"Knowledge is the one thing they cannot take from us. We will keep learning, in secret if we must, until the doors of school open again."

HopeAid's underground response

In response to this crisis, the HopeAid has launched clandestine education programs across Afghanistan, providing girls and women with safe spaces to continue their studies. These underground classes operate in private homes, community centers, and online platforms, reaching thousands of students who would otherwise have no access to education.

Our programs cover a full curriculum — from foundational literacy and numeracy to advanced science, mathematics, and literature — taught by qualified Afghan women educators who risk their own safety to teach. Digital learning platforms supplement in-person classes, allowing students in remote areas to connect with teachers and peers.

A lifeline for the future

For 16-year-old Maryam in Herat, these classes are a lifeline. "Every day I worry they will find us," she says. "But when I am in class, I feel like I have my future back. I want to be a doctor — and I believe one day I still can be."

HopeAid's work in Afghanistan extends beyond education. We provide psychosocial support, health care referrals, protection services, and cash assistance to vulnerable families. But our education programs remain the heart of our mission — because we know that when girls are educated, entire communities thrive.

Read more at the HopeAid Afghanistan page →

Tags: Emergency Afghanistan HopeAid Field Stories