Female Teacher Shortage Could Worsen

The situation may get even worse for Afghanistan’s weak education sector because of the limitations on access of women to higher education, according to the UN agency UNESCO. UNESCO noted that such limitations will result in a lack of experienced female teachers who will make it more difficult for children, including girls, to get the right education.

This comes amid the situation when millions of Afghan children are not involved in the education process. The lack of teachers only adds to existing difficulties that the schools have to deal with.

UNESCO and other United Nations organizations have been pointing out the significance of female educators in Afghanistan many times. Female teachers are particularly crucial for girls in such communities where parents are uncomfortable with their children being educated by male teachers.

Girls Face the Greatest Impact

The restrictions placed on women’s education have impacts that go beyond just the universities and individual girls. When girls are unable to advance in their studies, the country loses future teachers, doctors, nurses and professionals from other fields.

According to UNESCO and UNICEF, Afghanistan desperately requires women to become professionals. The two organizations argue that by withholding education from girls now, it will become even harder in the future to recruit professionals into important fields such as healthcare, teaching and community services.

Restrictions on education have already resulted in many Afghan girls missing out on classes. According to UNESCO, at least 1.4 million Afghan girls have been deprived of secondary education after the Taliban regained power in 2021.

Wider Education System Under Pressure

The issue of teachers’ shortage comes up amid other problems that impact Afghan schools. Reforms of the curriculums, shortages of educators, focus on religious education, and poverty are some factors that have influenced school attendance and learning processes.

Moreover, boys face certain difficulties as well. Poor families that have problems with poverty will not be able to afford sending children to school because of lack of money, while teaching is another problematic issue.

However, the absence of female educators leads to another specific problem. Since there are no enough women who can become teachers, girls will find it difficult to get education.

Long-Term Consequences

It is important to note that this problem will persist for many years to come. Limiting the education of women means limiting the talent pool that will be needed in order to rebuild the institutions of Afghanistan.

In terms of the education sector, however, the problem does not only involve the current number of teachers. There is a possibility that a whole generation of female educators who would provide education to future generations will be lost.

According to UNESCO, the increase in education among women is directly correlated with the improvement of the education system in Afghanistan.