How I overcame the Taliban’s ban on education for girls in Afghanistan

March 16, 2026

Asma, an Afghan girl who was in eleventh grade when the Taliban took control in August 2021, describes how the regime has systematically stripped Afghan women and girls of their educational and basic human rights. After being barred from continuing her formal education, she fought against despair by attending a secret English language center in Herat, where she eventually became a teacher herself while pursuing independent studies in literature, psychology, and history. With strong family support encouraging her to prioritize education and independence, she gained acceptance to the University of the People, an online American university, where she will begin studying Business Administration in April 2025.

Who is affected

Asma (the author), an Afghan girl who was in eleventh grade when the Taliban took power
Millions of Afghan girls and women denied education and basic rights under Taliban rule
Asma's classmates and teachers who were separated when schools closed
Other girls attending the secret English language center in Herat
Asma's sisters who also receive educational encouragement from their parents
Girls that Asma teaches English to at the secret center

What action is being taken

Asma is teaching English to girls her age and younger at a secret language center
Asma is engaging in self-directed reading and study at home, including literature, psychology, spiritual writings, and history
Brave teachers at the secret center in Herat are quietly teaching English to girls despite Taliban restrictions
Asma's family continues to support and encourage her and her sisters to prioritize education

Why it matters

This matters because it reveals the systematic denial of fundamental human rights to millions of Afghan girls and women under Taliban rule, comparing their situation to dystopian fiction. It demonstrates how educational restrictions impact an entire generation of young women who must mourn the loss of basic opportunities rather than living freely like their peers in other countries. The story highlights the critical importance of family support in helping girls resist despair and find alternative paths to education, showing that even under oppressive regimes, individual resilience and creative solutions can provide hope and opportunity where formal systems have failed.

What's next

Asma is set to begin studying Business Administration at the University of the People in April 2025
She plans to eventually complete a master's degree and doctorate
She aims to build a bright future and move forward toward her goals and dreams

Read full article from source: Global Voices