Taliban’s War on Education: UNICEF, UNESCO Warn of Deepening Crisis in Afghanistan

The Taliban’s ongoing restrictions on education have created a severe learning crisis in Afghanistan, prompting UNICEF and UNESCO to warn the international community about the growing humanitarian emergency.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, violations of basic human rights have increased sharply — with education among the worst affected sectors. Schools across the country remain closed or severely underfunded, leaving millions of children without access to learning.

According to the joint UNICEF–UNESCO report, “Afghanistan’s Education Situation 2025”:

• Over 90% of Afghan children aged 10 cannot read or understand simple text.
• 2.13 million children are currently out of school, and even those attending classes are failing to learn basic skills.
• The ban on girls’ education for the past four years has deprived 2.2 million young girls of schooling.
• If the ban continues, nearly 4 million girls could be excluded from secondary education by 2030.
• Between 2019 and 2024, boys’ enrollment in higher education dropped by 40%.
• More than 1,000 schools have been shut down, and many lack clean water and basic facilities.

The report warns that the Taliban’s extremist policies are causing long-term social and economic damage. The group’s failure to ensure education and protect fundamental rights is deepening poverty and instability across the country.

Human rights organizations urge the Taliban to end their support for terrorism and focus on rebuilding Afghanistan’s education system and public welfare.