UNESCO reports that about 2.4 million Afghan girls remain barred from secondary education five years after the Taliban returns to power in 2021. Multiple outlets cite UNESCO’s call for action, saying the restriction affects girls’ access to secondary and, in broader references, higher education for women.
The reporting places the figure in the context of an ongoing ban attributed to the Taliban’s education policies. NDTV and others note that the Taliban continues to maintain the restriction despite appeals from the United Nations, humanitarian groups, human rights advocates, and some Islamic countries. In contrast, commentary in some outlets frames the issue as a reversal of prior progress.
The common thread across sources is UNESCO’s renewed pressure on Afghanistan’s authorities, including language such as “immediate and unconditional” restoration of education rights. While outlets vary in wording—some emphasize the number of girls and the secondary level, while others broaden the impact to women’s access to university—the reported estimate and the call for restoring access remain consistent.
