Afghanistan’s school system is a tragic story.
Afghanistan used to educate all of its children. Schools provided a high quality of education and Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan attracted students from all across Asia and the Middle East. Then 1996 happened. A new group had formed two years before, in 1994: the Taliban. They were religious extremists. And in 1996, the Taliban took over Afghanistan. Under Taliban rule, the only education allowed was religious. The Taliban destroyed about half of the country's schools, and only boys were allowed to attend school. Education levels plummeted for Afghans and the country became extremely illiterate. About 57% of men and 86% of women were unable to read or write a basic sentence or even their name. For almost everyone, quality of life plummeted too. But then the Taliban was overthrown in late 2001, and Afghanistan received significant international aid to rebuild its education system. Education became a top priority for the new government. Around 7,000 schools were built across the country, and by the end of 2003, about 4.2 million children were enrolled in school.
Put the events in order.
The Taliban took over.
The Taliban was overthrown.
They destroyed about half of Afghanistan's schools.
Almost everyone was illiterate.
They allowed only boys to go to school and only religious education.
Afghanistan rebuilt its schools.
The government was rebuilding schools, but there were major obstacles. The Taliban was not in power but they were still a threat. They attacked the new schools. Between 2006 and 2009, the Taliban murdered 439 teachers, school employees, and students. Girls faced harder obstacles. Some parents refused to send their daughters to school if male teachers worked there. Others didn’t trust that the government could protect the schools, and refused to send their daughters out of fear of the Taliban.
Despite the difficulties, progress was being made until 2021. That’s when the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. Now, women and girls have faced severe restrictions. Girls are banned from attending school after age 12, and women are no longer allowed to work. Because many teachers had been women, these restrictions have created a major teacher shortage. There is also abuse reported at school. According to these reports, many school officials humiliate, slap, beat, and whip students. Once again, school attendance is very low and the quality of education has plummeted.
Write 6 details about education in Afghanistan, from the article so far but each detail is limited to 6 words.
If you cannot remember 6 details, consult with a classmate.
Copy & paste, then fill in...
Detail #1 (in 6 words):
Detail #2 (in 6 words):
Detail #3 (in 6 words):
Detail #4 (in 6 words):
Detail #5 (in 6 words):
Detail #6 (in 6 words):
Directions: Match the answer to the question. Refer back to the text if you need to.
| Draggable item | arrow_right_alt | Corresponding Item |
|---|---|---|
What happens when girls turn 12? | arrow_right_alt | They were afraid they'd be murdered by the Taliban. |
What happened in 2021? | arrow_right_alt | There were men working there. |
Why don't some boys attend school today? | arrow_right_alt | The Taliban took over. |
What kind of education do boys receive in Afghanistan today? | arrow_right_alt | The Taliban expels them from all schools. |
Why didn't some parents send girls to school when the government rebuilt schools? | arrow_right_alt | A religious education where everything is explained according to the Taliban. |
Why is there a teacher shortage in Afghanistan? | arrow_right_alt | There is physical abuse. |
Why didn't some parents send boys to school when the government rebuilt schools? | arrow_right_alt | The Taliban does not allow women to work. |
Children in Afghanistan no longer learn science, math, history, art, literature, etc. Instead, everything is based on the Taliban’s extreme religious beliefs. Natural events are explained as acts of God rather than through science. Textbooks are not allowed to have pictures of living things, not even to study human anatomy. Information about non-Islamic countries and cultures is often left out of textbooks or presented negatively. Instead of encouraging critical thinking, schools teach religious propaganda.
Today, it is estimated that nearly half of Afghanistan's children do not attend school. Many spend their days begging in the streets, herding animals, working in coal or salt mines, collecting garbage, or being forced into drug trafficking or sexual exploitation. Without access to education, many have little opportunity to escape poverty or build a better future.
Children in Afghanistan no longer learn science, math, history, art, literature, etc. Instead, everything is based on the Taliban’s extreme religious beliefs. Natural events are explained as acts of God rather than through science. Textbooks are not allowed to have pictures of living things, not even to study human anatomy. Information about non-Islamic countries and cultures is often left out of textbooks or presented negatively. Instead of encouraging critical thinking, schools teach religious propaganda so that the Taliban can oppress and control Afghans.
Today, it is estimated that nearly half of Afghanistan's children do not attend school. Many spend their days begging in the streets, herding animals, working in coal or salt mines, collecting garbage, or being forced into drug trafficking or sexual exploitation. Without access to education, many have little opportunity to escape poverty or build a better future.
What has become the purpose of schools in Afghanistan?
Children in Afghanistan no longer learn science, math, history, art, literature, etc. Instead, everything is based on the Taliban’s extreme religious beliefs. Natural events are explained as acts of God rather than through science. Textbooks are not allowed to have pictures of living things, not even to study human anatomy. Information about non-Islamic countries and cultures is often left out of textbooks or presented negatively. Instead of encouraging critical thinking, schools teach religious propaganda so that the Taliban can oppress and control Afghans.
Today, it is estimated that nearly half of Afghanistan's children do not attend school. Many spend their days begging in the streets, herding animals, working in coal or salt mines, collecting garbage, or being forced into drug trafficking or sexual exploitation. Without access to education, many have little opportunity to escape poverty or build a better future.
Summarize the consequences of Taliban "schools."