Despite obstacles, self-sacrificing Afghan women lead way to education

Despite many obstacles, self-sacrificing Afghan women educators have taken it upon themselves to teach girls who are not allowed to go to school, child workers who contribute to their families' livelihoods, and illiterate women. The Taliban, who came to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, imposed restrictions on working women and girls' education. Though barriers preventing women and girls from receiving education at the level up to 6th grade and in universities were removed, in most of the country, girls were not allowed to return to education in public schools at the secondary and high school levels. In many provinces of Afghanistan, volunteers are imparting education to underprivileged children in informal schools they have established with their own means. Sodabe Nezend and Azita Nezend, two sisters in their 20s, are among the Afghans who willingly shouldered the responsibility to educate those children who are deprived of education. These sisters opened the doors of the school they established in the capital Kabul to Anadolu Agency correspondent, where teachers give lessons 25 hours a week to nearly 250 students. Students are also trained in tailoring and carpet weaving here. 'The school offers courses in History, Mathematics, Persian, English, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in accordance with the curriculum,' Sodabe Nezend told Anadolu Agency. 'It is very clear that women are forgotten and marginalized in Afghanistan at all times. We do not want this situation to be repeated. We do not want Afghan girls to be uneducated, forgotten, and excluded from society,' Sodabe said. Azita Nezend said: 'We found that most of the girls were depressed and lost motivation after the Taliban's decision to prevent them from education. By establishing such a school, we wanted to give hope to girls that one day schools will reopen,' Azita noted. Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan last year on Aug. 15 as officials of the U.S.-backed Kabul administration fled the country and foreign forces withdrew. Taliban's takeover followed by the disruption of international financial assistance left the worn-torn country in economic, humanitarian, and human rights crises. Many Afghan women have demanded their rights be reinstated by taking to the streets, protesting, and organizing campaigns.