Free Online Education Offered to Girls Barred from Schools in Afghanistan

While schools remain closed to girls above the sixth grade, the online education platform “SOLAx” has announced that it is providing tenth and eleventh grade science subjects for free. The program’s organizers say their goal is to create educational opportunities for everyone, especially girls who have been denied access to school.

According to the platform’s administrators, more than 35,000 students have joined the program so far, a figure that highlights the widespread need and strong desire for continuing education in the country. This comes as the Taliban’s educational restrictions have prevented thousands of girls from attending schools and universities, forcing them to seek alternative ways to learn.

Using WhatsApp and offering lessons in multiple languages, the platform aims to partly fill the educational gap that has emerged. Some female students have embraced the initiative and are encouraging others to continue their education online.

After the Taliban banned education for girls beyond the sixth grade, many families and students turned to skill-building and online learning programs. This response demonstrates that educational deprivation has not deterred girls’ aspirations to learn but has instead prompted them to pursue alternative paths.