Afghan Girls, Women Turn to Online Learning Amid Taliban Restrictions
Date
3/27/2023 5:07:36 AM
(MENAFN) In Afghanistan, a growing number of girls and women are turning to online education as a means of circumventing the Taliban administration's restrictions on studying and working. The Taliban have closed girls’ high schools, barred access to universities, and stopped most women from working at non-governmental organizations, citing issues related to Islamic dress. As a result, many Afghan girls and women are going online as a last resort.
Sofia, 22, is one such student. She logs in to an online English course run by Rumi Academy from her home in Kabul. However, like many other students, Sofia faces significant challenges related to connectivity. During a recent class, her computer screen froze, and she repeatedly asked if her teacher could hear her. After several minutes, her computer stuttered back to life, and the class resumed.
Despite these challenges, the number of Afghan girls and women going online has increased dramatically since the Taliban were last in power from 1996 to 2001. At that time, virtually no one had access to the internet. However, after nearly two decades of Western-led intervention and engagement, 18% of the population had internet access in 2021, according to the World Bank.
The Taliban administration has allowed girls to study individually at home and has not moved to ban the internet, which its officials use to make announcements via social media. However, girls and women still face significant obstacles, including power cuts, slow internet speeds, and the high cost of computers and wifi. In a country where 97% of the population lives in poverty, these challenges are particularly acute.
Sofia's online school, Rumi Academy, has seen its enrollment of mostly female students rise from about 50 to over 500 since the Taliban took over in 2021. However, the academy has had hundreds more applications that it cannot enroll due to a lack of funds for teachers and equipment. Despite the challenges, online learning remains a critical lifeline for many Afghan girls and women seeking to continue their education amidst Taliban restrictions.
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