VOA's Sarah Zaman reports from Afghanistan that on January 24, International Day of Education, for most girls in Afghanistan, it will be almost 500 days since they have gone to school.
A Taliban ban on secondary education for girls has kept millions out of schools since late 2021. However, some are defying the ban through underground schools where girls gather to study in secret.
A nonprofit organization, Special Home Schools in Afghanistan, is running eight such schools in five cities with support from volunteers. The schools are free as most families cannot afford tuition. Girls are told to not bring any books to avoid the attention of the Taliban who could punish them severely and shut down the schools.
Despite security concerns, a volunteer told VOA the teachers and students attend the underground schools because “the biggest fear for us was the death of our soul and emotions.”
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