Afghan Woman Runs Secret Classes for Girls Amid Taliban Education Restrictions

Maryam, a 27-year-old woman living with her family, has converted parts of her home into secret classrooms for girls. In an interview with Afghanistan International, she described living in constant fear and anxiety that the Taliban might discover her classes. "When I hear Taliban members' voices in the alley, my heart beats faster. My students are also scared, but we quickly hide the books and act as if guests have arrived," she said.

Maryam said she experiences nightmares about her classes being exposed but hides her fears to keep her students' hopes alive. She divides her students into two groups arriving at different times and has them carry religious books to avoid suspicion. Initially, she disguised the classes as sewing lessons to build trust with families, who were concerned about their daughters' safety.

She noted that Taliban members visited students' homes early on, questioning families about why the girls were leaving home and spending hours at a neighbor's house. Maryam does not charge for classes, with her brother providing most school supplies, as many girls attend secretly to avoid family opposition.

Maryam urged the international community to support hidden home-based schools, such as through sewing programs that incorporate literacy training, to sustain girls' education despite Taliban restrictions.

Following the Taliban's takeover and ban on girls' education beyond sixth grade, UNESCO data indicates over 2.5 million girls have been deprived of schooling, with 80% of them eligible to attend. UNESCO has warned that continued restrictions could leave more than 4 million girls out of school by 2030.