By Ebi Kesiena
Afghan teenage girls are still barred from returning to school, as the Islamist rulers ordered male teachers and boys aged 13 and over back to secondary schools, but there was no mention of women teachers or girl pupils.
Speaking to France-Presse at her home in western Kabul, 16-year-old Amena stated that she saw dozens of her classmates killed when her girls’ school was targeted by an Islamic State bomb attack in May, but she was determined to continue her education.
According to Amena, she does not understand why boys are allowed to study and girls are not.
“I wanted to study, see my friends and have a bright future, but now I am not allowed
“This situation makes me feel awful. Since the Taliban arrived, I am very sad and angry,” the 16-year-old said.
The Taliban later said older girls can return to secondary schools, which were already mostly split by gender, but only once security and stricter segregation under their interpretation of Islamic law could be ensured.
Reports have emerged of girls going back to a few high schools such as in Kunduz Province, where the Taliban promoted the return with a stage-managed rally.
The de facto Taliban Education Minister told the United Nations children’s body that a framework to allow all girls to go to secondary school will be announced soon.
But for now, the vast majority are barred from lessons across the country of about 39 million people, including in the capital Kabul.
Primary schools, meanwhile, have reopened for all children and women can go to private universities, though with tough restrictions on their clothes and movement.
