Girls' Education

 Written by: Samira Haleemzai

Afghanistan is one of the few countries in the world where education is provided free of charge by the government, however, some people do not give their daughters the same education rights as their sons, which can lead to many problems.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people about this issue.

Laila, a resident of Paghman district, Kabul province says, “My brothers do not let me go to school and I cannot read or write. If someone brings an invitation card or other party card to our house, I cannot tell if it is a wedding invitation card or a card for the recitation of the Holy Quran. Our house document was under the mattress. One day when I was cleaning our living room, I had thrown it away with the trash."

Khatera, a resident of Qarabagh district, Kabul province says, “My mother cannot read or write. When I face problems in my school lessons, she could not help me and I get disappointed.”

What is the opinion of some people about the cause for not giving equal education rights to girls and boys?
 
Saba, a resident of Laghman province says, “Most families are unaware of the bad consequences of illiteracy. They do not know that if their daughters do not go to school, their families would face problems. On the other hand, in some areas, girls' schools are far from where they live, and families do not allow their daughters to go to school.”

A girl, who doesn’t want to mention her name says, “Most schools in villages do not have female teachers, and families do not let their daughters to such schools.”

How do some people solve this issue?

Samira, a resident of Kabul province says, “I had passed the teacher training institute. When I was a student, my uncle suggested to my father not to allow me to school anymore, but my father rejected his suggestion and told him that my daughter has the disability of one hand and she has to study. Now I am a teacher in one of the schools and I am solving my economic problems with my salary.”

Shafi, a resident of Nangarhar province says, “My sisters are all literate and I did my best to help them.
Our house was far from school. When they were going to school, I took them to school first, and then I was going to my job, and I was taking them back from school to home.”

 Hizbullah Nasih, a professor of Sharia at the faculty of sharia, Kabul University says,” Allah says (SWT) says, “Are those who are blind equal to those who are not blind? Here is the meaning of blind is non-educated and non-blind is educated person.

Our Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) also says that education is obligatory for both men and women.”