November 17 marks International Students’ Day. While students worldwide celebrate this occasion, nearly two years have passed since the gates of universities were closed to female students in Afghanistan.
On this day, some female students once again called on the caretaker government to reopen schools and universities for girls.
Ayesha, a 22-year-old student at the Faculty of Mass Communication at Kabul University, said that although she has been barred from attending university for two years, she continues to strive to help other girls pursue education.
Ayesha stated that girls deprived of education face an uncertain future.
Ayesha, a university student, said: “There is a deep sorrow in the hearts of all girls, especially mine, because I feel that we are now in limbo, not knowing which direction we are heading.”
Some women’s rights activists emphasize the importance of creating educational opportunities for young girls and boys in the country and urged the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools and universities for girls.
Tafseer Siyahposh, a women’s rights activist, said: “Unfortunately, every day, we only hear announcements, but they have never taken fundamental action. If they had, why are the school and university gates still closed after three years?”
The Islamic Emirate has not recently commented on International Students’ Day but previously stated that efforts are underway to provide better educational facilities for students.
International Students’ Day was established on November 17, 1941, by the International Students’ Congress in London to commemorate the students in Czechoslovakia who were oppressed and killed by Nazi forces in 1939.