Published on: 2026-11-04
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
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November 4, 2026 Human Rights
More than half of Afghan children of primary school age do not receive formal education. At the same time, higher education remains only a dream for millions of girls. These data are presented in a new report on the state of education in Afghanistan, published by UNESCO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
“The situation in the education sector in Afghanistan in 2026 is defined by the growing mismatch between the high demand for education and the education system’s ability to meet it,” the report notes.
The number of children and adolescents of school age – from 7 to 18 years old – has grown from approximately 10.4 million in 2019 to 11.5 million in 2024. This creates additional pressure on already overloaded schools and teachers. The situation is exacerbated by emergencies, lack of investment, and the mass return of Afghans from Pakistan and Iran: this year alone, more than one million people have returned to their homeland, including over 245,000 children.
2.6 million girls are deprived of the opportunity to study
Girls’ access to education remains severely limited: since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, more than 2.6 million girls have been denied the opportunity to attend school after the sixth grade.
According to the report’s authors, the few remaining opportunities for adolescent girls, including community-level education, literacy and skills training programs, remote and digital learning, as well as private lessons, are insufficient. About 5,300 classes organized by local communities are attended by approximately 162,000 children, of whom 64 percent are girls. However, the authors emphasize that “nothing can replace face-to-face schooling.”
At the same time, access to education among boys is decreasing. As a result, about 53 percent of children of primary school age remain outside the formal general education system. A decline is also noticeable at the secondary school level.
The authors note that information about private, Islamic, and alternative education is incomplete, and also warn that the path from primary school to secondary and higher education, professional training, and work in Afghanistan is becoming increasingly difficult.
Thirst for knowledge
Despite difficulties, Afghan families continue to seek opportunities for educating their children, including where schools are unavailable. Last year, about 6.6 million children enrolled in public primary schools—approximately 560 thousand more than in 2022. However, the rate of student growth does not keep pace with population growth.
The report’s authors also point out the need to improve the quality of education. A nationwide assessment showed that less than half of fourth-grade students reach the basic language proficiency level.
Since women are prohibited from studying at universities, the higher education sector remains significantly smaller than in 2021. This year, about 208 thousand students are enrolled in universities — more than in 2024 (189 thousand), but much less than in 2020 (approximately 430 thousand).
UNESCO and UNICEF call for the full restoration of Afghan girls’ and women’s right to education and the removal of barriers undermining its quality. UN agencies warn that without urgent action, an entire generation will be left behind, which will undermine the country’s recovery and development in the future.
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