Boys refuse to go to school in Afghanistan in solidarity with girls

A number of boys in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan have been absenting themselves from school in solidarity with their female counterparts who are not allowed to attend school by order of the Taliban.

The Taliban has a few days earlier put out a statement through it’s education ministry ordering officials to oversee the reopening of “madrasas, private and public schools and other academic institutions of the country” starting from Saturday for middle and high school boys.

“All male students and male teachers must be present at their schools,” it said without making any mention of girls. However, girls below the age of 12 have been allowed into classrooms, the Taliban’s reasoning behind remaining silent about those above this age group is because this is the time girls start menstruating as a part of their formative teenage years, according to experts.

Many boys in Kabul are skipping school in solidarity with their female schoolmates, days after the Taliban reopened school for boys, but kept silent on allowing girls inside classrooms.

The new Taliban-run education ministry, in a statement on Friday, ordered officials to oversee the reopening of “madrasas, private and public schools and other academic institutions of the country” starting from Saturday for middle and high school boys.

BADAKHSHAN, Afghanistan – Children take time for a photo during a Civil Military Cooperation mission in Gazanak village, where a school is being constructed for the locals. Official Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Tabios, ISAF HQ Public Affairs.

The statement, however, did not mention girls. “All male students and male teachers must be present at their schools,” it said.

While girl children up to the age of 12 have been allowed into classrooms, the Taliban’s reasoning behind remaining silent about those above this age group is because this is the time girls start menstruating as a part of their formative teenage years, according to experts.

While female students are attending university classes, the Taliban has asked authorities to segregate classrooms by gender and if that was not possible, to separate boys and girls using a curtain.

The Taliban’s leaders promised to support women’s education and employment, but there have been reports of women being sent back home from work but just last month, Taliban leaders called men back into government offices, but said security concerns made it unsafe for women.

So far, only women who worked in the health and education sectors have been able to return to work.

Written by BoomRadioNG