Afghanistan‘s Last Classroom: Internet Access Restricted Amidst Taliban Education Ban
Edinburgh - A recent nationwide internet blackout in Afghanistan, lasting from September 29th to October 1st, has raised fears about the future of education for girls and women, already barred from secondary and higher learning for four years under Taliban rule.While service has been restored, reports indicate ongoing instability and slowdowns, threatening a vital lifeline for Afghan women seeking educational opportunities.
The shutdown, initially implemented in select provinces under the guise of preventing “immoral activities,” represents a potential escalation of the regime’s restrictive policies and a direct assault on the ability of Afghan women to circumvent the ban on formal education through online courses. For countless girls and women, the internet has become their primary – and in manny cases, only – access to learning, offering a pathway to continued studies and future prospects. This disruption underscores a growing concern that the taliban is actively seeking to dismantle even these remaining avenues for female empowerment.
The internet blackout began as a localized restriction, but quickly expanded nationwide, cutting off access to online learning platforms and essential communication channels. Though connectivity was reportedly reinstated on October 1st, numerous Afghans have reported that internet service remains significantly degraded and unreliable. This instability poses a substantial challenge to online education,requiring consistent and robust access for effective participation.
The Taliban’s 2021 decree prohibiting girls from attending secondary school and university has effectively halted the education of an entire generation. In response, Afghan women have increasingly turned to online learning, utilizing platforms and resources available through internet access.This reliance makes the recent disruption especially damaging, highlighting the regime’s willingness to impede even alternative educational pathways. The future of these online learning opportunities, and the educational prospects of Afghan women, now hang in the balance as the Taliban’s control over digital access tightens.
