WUNRN
Roles and Functions of
Religious Civil Society in Afghanistan 2007
Direct Link to Report:
Case Studies From Sayedabad &
Kunduz
5.3 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR GIRLS
Since 2001, there has been a massive
increase in the number of children going to secular schools. Currently more
than 5 million Afghan children are back in school; and of these, nearly
one-third are girls. Girls are legally allowed to attend school until the age
of 18, but in some areas only 5% of girls attend school, and it is likely that
most will drop out by the end of primary school. There has been no research on
the number of girls in religious education outside the few religious schools
supported by the Ministry of Education.
Girls' education is a particularly
sensitive issue in Afghanistan, with the government and its Western backers
advocating for more and more girls to attend school and for longer periods.
This is often opposed by religious leaders who believe that girls should not be
educated beyond the age when they become mature.
In Sayedabad, there are 34 schools
out of which 23 are for boys and 6 are for girls, and 5 are mixed. The
enrollment rate is around 20%, and as low as 5% for girls. There is no data on
how many children attend madrasas.
In Sayedabad traditionally girls are
allowed to attend mosques and school up to the age of 8 or 9. Religious leaders
generally define the age to which a girl can attend a madrasa as
"bloogh," the age when a girl reaches maturity.
Rural people are concerned about
sending their mature daughters outside their homes. This is primarily because
the honour of the family will be harmed if their mature daughter is seen by
non-family male adults. In addition to concerns about honour, many families are
also concerned about insecurity, which further restricts women's movement.
Beyond issues of honour and security there are other social barriers to girls
accessing education. In Sayedabad, the majority of girls are already married by
the age of 14 or 15, and most families do not see the value of educating a girl
once married. The lack of female teachers and the absence of segregated
buildings for girls and boys, is a further hindrance.
The number of schools in Kunduz is
higher than in Sayedabad. There are 79 schools in Kunduz City out of which 25
are for boys and 9 schools for girls, and 45 mixed to some degree. The
enrollment rate is around 41%, with 20% of girls enrolled. People in Kunduz are
traditionally more open towards girls' education, and more girls study in
Kunduz than in Sayedabad. Attitudes towards the age that girls can attend
education establishments are also more relaxed in Kunduz.
Since the civil war commanders and
security forces have been involved in the kidnapping of girls, there is a
pervasive fear of kidnapping across Afghanistan. Families think the environment
outside their homes is not secure enough, and therefore restrict the movement
of their female children.
Some home classes provide Islamic
education for girls, and they are run by female mullahs. There is no
institution where women and girls can attain higher Islamic education.
The Role & Functions of Religious Civil Society in
Afghanistan 2007
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