KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

 

EML in top talks over Afghan schoolgirls' education

Dr Yvonne Ridley, Secretary-general at EML has held a series of key meetings with government ministers in Afghanistan to discuss the future of education for senior girls.

There has been growing concern in the international community over girls' education in Afghanistan after the Taliban swept into power in Kabul last August.

During her visit to the country, Dr. Ridley travelled to Kabul, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Logar, Ghazni, Nangarhar and other provinces in Afghanistan which have been devastated by continuous wars, occupations, famine, and strife for more than five decades.

"The talks were very productive, especially with the Education Minister Sheikh Maulvi Noorullah Munir. I was assured that the situation will be resolved very soon,” said Dr Ridley.

“What I found very encouraging was that the Taliban recognise girls have equal rights in education with boys. I did express my frustration that the wheels were not turning fast enough in terms of re-opening the girls’ schools.

“The reality is out of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces nearly 20 are ignoring the Taliban’s announcement in March to postpone the opening of schools for senior girls. So, many senior girls are continuing their education and also all senior girls in private, fee-paying schools are also attending lessons.

“However, even if one girl is missing out then that’s one too many and I made my position very clear but it was like knocking on an open door.

“During my visit, the highly respected Ulema in neighbouring Pakistan announced there was no legal justification for banning girls above sixth grade from attending school. This was followed up by a collective of Islamic scholars  in the conservative province of Paktika which also demanded all secondary schools open for girls.”

Dr Ridley said both these powerful moves by clerics echoed the previous month’s "National Dialogue of Afghan Scholars" in Kabul which called on the Islamic Emirate to reopen all girls' schools in the country.

“In light of the guidance of the holy religion of Islam, find a suitable way to solve the crisis in the country, especially to provide education for girls above the sixth grade and to provide employment for women,” said Abdul Sattar Hayat, a member of the Ulema Movement of Afghanistan.

As her visit draws to an end Dr Ridley said she was quietly confident all Afghan schoolgirls would resume their studies maybe even as soon as Eid.

“One senior Taliban official proudly showed me a photograph of his daughter aged seven and declared she wants to become a doctor. He vowed to do everything in his power to make sure she achieves her dreams.”

Dr Ridley said she believes 95 per cent of the Taliban movement wants the issue resolved in favour of the schoolgirls quickly. “There appears to be a bullish, tiny but influential minority that clearly doesn’t want to give the impression they will easily succumb to international pressure but while the obfuscation continues girls are losing out on their education.”

She now intends to submit a report to EML about the state of education in Afghanistan, the lack of qualified teachers and the four million children in the country who’ve never experienced a formal education.

“There are some shocking literacy statistics and it is clear to me that only a large but vocal minority of both boys and girls have benefitted during the US occupation years. However, it is important for us all to start looking forward to finding solutions to the many inescapable problems facing the Afghan nation after 20 years of war,” concluded Dr Ridley.