Inside Secret Girls’ Schools That Defy Taliban Rules

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, August 30, 2026

Thousands of secret schools in Afghanistan continue to educate girls despite the Taliban’s ban on secondary education for females introduced in 2022. These underground efforts are crucial for offering girls access to learning, but the lack of formal pathways beyond Grade 12 and ongoing risks leave their futures uncertain and highlight the broader social and psychological harm caused by the restrictions.

In Afghanistan, thousands of clandestine schools continue to operate despite the Taliban’s ban on secondary education for girls, which was imposed in 2022. This prohibition, now entering its fifth year, has barred nearly 2.5 million Afghan girls from attending formal secondary schools, forcing many to seek education in secret to avoid isolation and hopelessness.

Among those who persist in pursuing their education is 18-year-old Ayesha, who attends a covert school located behind the corridors of a primary school. These underground institutions, often organized by dedicated principals, teachers, and parents, are hidden across the country. Students must use varying routes and avoid walking in groups to reduce the risk of detection. Occasionally, Taliban inspections disrupt classes, but the students and educators remain determined to continue their studies.

While the Taliban publicly maintain that girls have alternatives through religious schools or private tutoring, many families and educators describe these options as insufficient. Religious schools, or madrasas, permitted by the Taliban, require girls to wear full coverings and often emphasize religious subjects over scientific or modern curricula. Girls report that key subjects such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics are merged into single classes taught from an ideological perspective aligned with Taliban teachings. Some students express concern that this education primarily serves to indoctrinate rather than empower them.

Despite security improvements in Afghanistan since the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, which contributed to an increase in primary school enrollment for girls, the overall education situation remains dire. A UNESCO study found that nine out of ten children under the age of ten cannot read age-appropriate material, and female literacy rates hover around 25 percent. Girls who manage to complete sixth grade—the highest officially permitted by the Taliban—face bleak prospects due to widespread bans on women’s employment and limited chances to study abroad.

Educators and mental health professionals warn that the ban is inflicting long-term damage on Afghanistan’s social fabric. Rising rates of underage marriage, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts among girls have been reported. Some girls, like Ayesha’s friend Zuhal, face family opposition so severe it leads to physical abuse, deterring their attendance. Nonetheless, many students remain resolute, describing their pursuit of education as essential for their identity and future.

Teachers working in these underground schools often do so without pay or for reduced salaries, and many struggle with fear and frustration. Some staff have gone into hiding to evade Taliban retaliation, while others express feelings of despair over a lack of international support. “Who is motivating us?” one teacher recalled asking during a staff meeting amid growing challenges.

While the clandestine schools offer a lifeline to some girls, the future remains uncertain. Many secret programs only extend through Grade 12, after which students have no formal options. For students like Ayesha, who dream of attending university or building careers, these limitations represent a lost generation. Educators and families alike continue to fight for the right to education, despite the risks and setbacks under the current regime's policies.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.