Afghanistan’s Education Crisis Deepens: 2.2 Million Girls Denied Education, Millions of Children out of School

Kabul: Afghanistan’s education crisis is worsening, with millions of children out of school and millions of Afghan girls deprived of their right to continue secondary education because of restrictions imposed by the Taliban government. A lack of basic facilities in educational institutions, a shortage of trained teachers and declining education standards have also placed the future of the younger generation at risk. According to a joint report released by UNICEF and UNESCO in October 2025, more than 2.13 million primary school-age children in Afghanistan are deprived of education. Meanwhile, a large number of children enrolled in schools are also struggling to acquire basic learning skills.

The report states that restrictions imposed by the Taliban government on girls’ secondary education have resulted in approximately 2.2 million Afghan girls being excluded from schools. Afghanistan is currently the only country in the world where girls and women are officially barred from accessing secondary and higher education. The education crisis is not limited to girls, as boys’ education is also being affected. According to the report, male enrolment in higher education declined by approximately 40 percent between 2019 and 2024, while enrolment in secondary education has also stagnated. One particularly alarming finding is that more than 90 percent of 10-year-old children in Afghanistan cannot read and understand a simple text. This situation indicates that the problem is not merely that children are unable to enrol in schools, but also that those attending educational institutions are not receiving quality education.

Afghanistan’s educational institutions are facing a severe shortage of basic facilities. According to the report, nearly half of the country’s schools lack access to clean drinking water, adequate sanitation facilities or proper heating systems to protect students from cold weather. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 schools remain closed because of the impact of conflicts and natural disasters. A shortage of trained teachers, particularly the declining number of female teachers, has become another major challenge for the education system. Inadequate educational resources, uncertainty surrounding the curriculum and weak monitoring mechanisms have also adversely affected children’s learning.

UNICEF and UNESCO have warned that if restrictions on girls’ secondary education remain in place, approximately four million girls could be deprived of the opportunity to receive secondary education by 2030. Both organizations have urged Afghan authorities to immediately reopen secondary and higher education institutions for girls and women and make long-term investments in the education sector. The consequences of the education crisis will extend beyond the current generation. In the future, Afghanistan could face a severe shortage of female teachers, doctors, nurses and other trained professionals.

According to a separate UNICEF study released in April 2026, if restrictions on girls’ education and women's employment continue, Afghanistan could face a shortage of 20,000 female teachers and 5,400 female healthcare workers by 2030. Experts say education is fundamental to the development of any country. However, limiting educational opportunities for millions of Afghan children, particularly girls, threatens the country’s social, economic and human development. United Nations agencies maintain that ensuring access to quality and equal education for every child is essential to securing Afghanistan’s future.