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Afghan Students Study Under Open Sky as Schools Lack Buildings, Supplies

Students in Afghanistan's Kapisa province are forced to attend classes outdoors or in tents due to a critical shortage of proper school buildings. The crisis extends beyond infrastructure, with severe shortages of textbooks, furniture, and basic laboratory equipment like microscopes. While boys grapple with these conditions, women and girls face an even harsher reality, being largely banned from education and work by Taliban restrictions. United Nations officials have condemned these policies, stating that millions of Afghan women and girls are deprived of their basic human rights.

Key Points: Afghan Students Forced to Attend School Outdoors

  • 79 schools in Kapisa lack buildings
  • Students study in tents or outdoors
  • Critical shortage of textbooks and lab equipment
  • Women and girls face severe education bans
  • UN official criticizes restrictions on basic rights
2 min read

Bereft of buildings, Afghan students forced to attend school under sky

Students in Afghanistan's Kapisa province attend classes outdoors due to a lack of school buildings and basic supplies like textbooks and microscopes.

"Students study under the open sky during the hot months... - Khalid Kakar, school principal"

Kabul, January 11

Students in Kapisa province of Afghanistan are left with no option but to attend classes outdoors due to a lack of buildings, Tolo News reported.

Taliban's education sector's data says that out of 238 schools in Kapisa, 79 don't have buildings, and 100 remain dilapidated.

Ahmad Javid Forotan, Head of Quality Assurance at the Department of Education, said, "We have a total of 238 schools in Kapisa. Of those, 159 have buildings, while 79 schools are without proper structures. Students are studying under tents or in rented buildings."

Apart from the buildings, many of these students also don't have access to enough textbooks, Tolo News reported.

Hamza, a student in Kapisa, told Tolo News, "There are some problems like broken chairs, windows, and paint. We ask the government and aid organisations to address these issues."

Ebrahim, another student, narrated his ordeal to Tolo News, "There are many problems in our laboratory. In biology class, the teacher wanted to show us a microscope lens, but when we went to the lab, there was no microscope. Many other tools are also missing."

Parents and teachers have also called on the Taliban to address these issues.

Khalid Kakar, a school principal, said, "Students study under the open sky during the hot months of Jawza, Saratan, and Asad (June-August)."

Lajur Jan, a local elder, said, "Our children suffer during the heat because their schools have no shelter."

Women and girls are bereft of the opportunity of even learning under the sky, said Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, on January 6, as reported by Tolo News, criticising the continued restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan. She stated that the bans on work and education and the restrictions on women's presence in public spaces remain in place.

In a post on X, she stated that women's rights are human rights everywhere.

Amina Mohammed said: "Millions of women and girls in Afghanistan face severe restrictions on their basic rights: education, work, security and freedom of movement."

Taliban has recently made no statements regarding women's and girls' rights, especially the right to education. But, in the past, officials have said that women's and girls' rights in the country are ensured within the framework of Sharia law, as per Tolo News.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The situation for girls is even more tragic. No buildings is one issue, but being banned from learning at all is a crime against humanity. The Taliban's interpretation of Sharia is destroying a generation. India has welcomed Afghan students in the past—maybe that door needs to be opened wider for those who can leave. 🇮🇳
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Aman W
It's a complex issue. Security and stability must come first for any development. Perhaps the focus should be on temporary, low-cost solutions like more durable tents and donated textbooks from neighboring countries. Long-term building projects take time, especially with sanctions in place.
S
Sarah B
The lack of a simple microscope in a bio lab says it all. This isn't just about buildings; it's about the complete collapse of an education system. While the article focuses on Kapisa, I wonder if this is the case across Afghanistan. The world cannot look away.
K
Karthik V
As an Indian, I feel for these students. We have our government schools with infrastructure problems, but nothing like studying under the open sky in summer. This is a basic governance failure. The Taliban authorities need to prioritize this—how can they talk about a future when they won't educate their youth?
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Nisha Z
Respectfully, while the focus is rightly on the students, we must also acknowledge the teachers and principals working in these impossible conditions. Their dedication is commendable. I hope aid reaches them directly. The ban on girls' education, however, is indefensible and must be the primary point of international pressure.

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