Taliban causing ‘irreversible damage’ to whole education system in Afghanistan
GuardianJUN 2023
UNICEF: 4 Million Afghan Children Out of School Amid Infrastructure Crisis
Above: Afghan children are seen at a temporary camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 2, 2025. Image copyright: Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan's children face an educational apocalypse. Nearly four million young minds — once bursting with dreams of becoming doctors and teachers — now reportedly do not attend school. Girls are completely barred from secondary schools, while boys endure corporal punishment and stripped curricula. An entire generation's aspirations are being systematically crushed and their futures stolen by an authoritarian regime's cruelty.
Narrative B
Hope flickers through international solidarity for Afghanistan. UNICEF and EU partnerships, for instance, have established 275 community schools, nurturing 9,500 young students who learn to read despite restrictions. Dedicated teachers, even if only a handful, continue to inspire children, especially girls, to aspire beyond limitations. These small victories illuminate resilient spirits — children still use books, chasing dreams of becoming doctors and scientists.