Pictures of the Year International

KABUL | KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 2024-02-17 | A private institute in the West of Kabul, where girls follow the American curriculum in English, but cannot obtain any Afghan official education certificate, nor can they go to university in Afghanistan, closed for women. This is a rare instance where the school has managed to secure the local Taliban’s approval to shut a blind eye on the school’s operation with teenage girls. 700 female highschool students study at this institute everyday under strict security measurement while two armed security guards from the community watch the gate and girls enter and exit one by one, leaving their backpacks at the entrance. Despite suicide bombers’ attacks that took place before the takeover, the institute remains full of girls, whose dreams are now to leave the country to continue their education abroad. Despite the Taliban's promises, girls high schools never reopened after the fall. As of today, girls are only allowed to study until grade 6, and are barred from both high schools and universities. However underground schools set up at homes, mosques or alternative spaces continue educating girls, at a high risk.