Karzai Warns of Dire Consequences from Continued Ban on Girls’ Education in Afghanistan
Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, has warned about the continuation of the Taliban administration’s ban on girls’ education, citing a recent report from UNICEF. He described the ban as a serious threat to the future of the country.
On Thursday, April 30, Karzai stated that based on the report, Afghanistan could lose approximately 25,000 women teachers and health workers by 2030. He added that over two million girls would be denied access to school during the same period, highlighting the vast scale of the educational crisis in the country.
The United Nations has also warned that due to restrictions imposed by the Taliban administration, Afghanistan will face a shortage of 20,000 female teachers and nearly 5,000 health workers by 2030. This shortage could directly impact the delivery of educational and health services across the country, especially in remote areas.
The former Afghan president emphasized that denying girls access to education weakens the nation’s capacity and increases the country’s reliance on foreign aid. He stated: “The continuation of the ban and keeping schools and universities closed to girls will weaken the national capability and increase Afghanistan’s urgent need and dependence on external support.”
The persistence of these restrictions comes despite repeated calls from international organizations and several Afghan political figures for schools and universities to reopen to girls. Several years after the ban was imposed, the Taliban administration has yet to take any concrete steps to lift it, raising growing concerns about the future of education and development in Afghanistan.
