Following the government’s restrictions on the education of girls and women, the Education Department of Herat Province has prohibited the education of girls above the sixth grade in training courses.
This letter, a copy of which has been provided to the Goharshad media outlet, was sent by the Education Department of Herat Province to educational centers on “Tuesday, 24th of December.”
The letter, signed by Mawlawi Rahmatullah Jabir, head of education in Herat, states: “According to the decision of the Support Commission for the approved regulations and the order for enjoining good and forbidding wrong in Herat dated 16 December and the decree of the Amir al-Mu’minin dated 4th of Wray, teaching students above the sixth grade in the female section is suspended until further notice.”
The Education Department in Herat has requested educational centers to ensure the implementation of this directive.
The letter states that according to the order of Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, leader of the current government, education for girls above the sixth grade in public and private schools and training institutes is suspended until further notice, and this order also applies to educational courses.
Additionally, a responsible person from one of the educational centers in Herat told Goharshad media that these centers have been instructed both verbally and in writing not to enroll female students above the sixth grade anymore.
Despite schools being closed to girls above the sixth grade, these girls were previously learning English or school subjects in training courses.
It is unclear whether these new restrictions are only being enforced in Herat or if they apply to other provinces as well.
This comes at a time when the Department for Enjoining Good and Forbidding Wrong had previously warned educational center officials in Herat not to allow women wearing mantos (long coats) to enter.
Earlier this month, the activities of women-only cafes were halted due to the presence of women without hijabs and warnings from the enforcers of good and forbidding wrong.
On 13 November last year, enforcers raided several educational centers in Herat, pulling students out of their classes and sealing off the doors of these centers.
Despite the closure of schools and universities, girls were allowed to study at health institutes until a few weeks ago, but those institutes have also been closed to them now.
