Violence in southern Afghanistan closes hundreds of schools

Afghan children are scheduled to return to classes to begin another school year on September 10. However, IRIN reports that hundreds of schools will remain closed due to violence in the southern provinces, according to Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty.

According to the RFE/RFL article: “The education system in southern Helmand Province, where Taliban militants control several districts, has disintegrated over the past four years as the extremists continue to launch their insurgency campaign against the government from the area.”

Schools for girls in particular have come under repeated attacks because the Taliban believes that females should not be educated.

According to a 2006 report by the U.K.-based charity Oxfam, Afghanistan has made significant progress in rebuilding the education sector since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, but more than half of all Afghan children do not attend school.

For the full article, click here.