KABUL—A new joint report by UNICEF and UNESCO paints a devastating picture of Afghanistan’s education sector, describing it as being on the brink of collapse. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, restrictions on girls’ education, shrinking international funding, and deepening poverty have collectively pushed the nation’s education system into a full-blown crisis. The report reveals that more than 2.13 million primary-school-aged children are currently out of school, while an alarming 90 percent of ten-year-olds are unable to read a simple text.
Girls’ Education Ban and Growing Gender Disparity
The gender disparity is particularly alarming. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls are banned from secondary and higher education. More than 2.2 million adolescent girls have been denied access to classrooms beyond the primary level. However, the crisis is not limited to girls; boys, too, are facing reduced educational opportunities. Enrolment in higher education has dropped by around 40 percent between 2019 and 2024 due to conflict, poverty, and lack of infrastructure.
Almost half of all schools in the country lack basic facilities such as clean water, sanitation, and heating, while over 1,000 schools remain closed either because of ongoing conflict or natural disasters. These conditions make it nearly impossible for students, especially young girls, to continue learning safely.
A Threat to the Nation’s Future and Economy
UNESCO warns that if current restrictions and systemic failures continue, nearly four million girls could be deprived of education by 2030. The economic repercussions are equally grave. The exclusion of women from higher education alone could cost Afghanistan up to US $9.6 billion in lost economic potential by 2066, nearly two-thirds of its present GDP.
Such losses are not only financial but also deeply developmental. Denying education to millions of children means stripping Afghanistan of an entire generation of teachers, doctors, engineers, and innovators, leaving the country dependent on aid and vulnerable to instability.
Education Crisis as a Security Imperative
The education collapse also poses a serious security risk to Afghanistan and the wider region. A generation without access to education risks falling into cycles of poverty, unemployment, and radicalization. The shortage of qualified teachers and the deteriorating quality of education exacerbate these risks, creating an environment of hopelessness that extremist groups can easily exploit.
Humanitarian agencies stress that ensuring education in Afghanistan is not just a developmental goal; it is a regional security necessity. Without literacy, awareness, and economic participation, the prospects of lasting peace and stability remain dim.
Call for Global and Local Action
UNICEF and UNESCO have jointly called for urgent action to reverse this decline. They urge the de facto authorities to lift restrictions on girls’ education, reopen secondary and higher institutions for women, and invest in foundational learning programs such as literacy and numeracy.
Both organizations emphasize rebuilding damaged infrastructure, supporting teacher training, and expanding community-based education programs, especially in remote areas. Furthermore, they highlight the importance of sustained international funding to ensure that Afghan children, regardless of gender, can return to classrooms and receive quality education.
A Defining Moment for Afghanistan’s Future
Afghanistan’s education system now stands at a historic crossroads. Decades of progress achieved through global cooperation and local dedication are at risk of being undone. The denial of education to millions of children, especially girls, not only limits their individual futures but also jeopardizes the collective progress of the nation.
Without swift and coordinated action, Afghanistan faces an irreversible educational and human capital disaster, one that could echo through generations and hinder the nation’s path toward peace, prosperity, and global reintegration.
