A religious school catering exclusively to women and girls has commenced operations in Kabul, offering accommodation for up to 400 students.
Led by the Imamiyya Religious Scholars Council, the school champions women’s right to education. Students at the institution expressed their desire for regular schools to reopen as they consider attending such schools their only viable option.
For girls who refuse to let their education be interrupted, this specialized school, limited to four hundred students, represents their sole hope.
The council which advocates for the establishment of schools for girls hoped for a swift reopening of schools and universities.
“I hope that schools and universities are reopened to our dear daughters as soon as possible. And those women who need to work, a suitable working environment should be provided for them,” Mohammad Hossein Jafari, the head of the council, told Amu on Sunday.
According to student Nargis, “All students, teachers, and staff members are women.”
Under Taliban rule, girls beyond the sixth grade are prohibited from attending schools and universities remain closed to them as well. However, religious schools supervised or managed by the Taliban allow girls to continue their studies.
Zainab, a student, shared her motivation for enrolling, stating, “To avoid forgetting my lessons and to secure a future, I have enrolled here.”
Farishta Mohammadi, another student, encouraged families to permit their daughters to join the madrassa, stating, “We’re studying the Quran as well, and I encourage other families to allow their daughters to join this madrassa.”
These madrasas primarily focus on religious subjects. With regular schools closed, women and girls in Afghanistan view these institutions as an alternative for continuing their education. Nevertheless, their primary aspiration remains the reopening of schools and universities.
