Afghan girls embrace online education despite Internet issues

Slow internet speed has created challenges for online education, especially for girls in Afghanistan.

The Financial Times reported that despite internet connectivity issues, more Afghan girls are turning to online education, particularly for subjects like English, science, and business.

The newspaper noted that the strict policies of the Taliban regime have put the progress made in girls’ education over the past two decades at risk and have increased hopelessness among women and girls in Afghanistan.

According to the Financial Times, the Taliban administration of Afghanistan is considered one of the “most oppressive” regimes in the world.

According to a report by the Financial Times, tens of thousands of girls and women have turned to online education to escape restrictions on education.

Laila Husseini, one of the girls deprived of education in Afghanistan, told Khaama Press that they could not continue their education in the current situation in Afghanistan, so they have resorted to online education to pursue a brighter future. She has been studying online for four months, learning various subjects such as English, school subjects, and photography in a calm and comfortable environment.

Despite facing high costs and slow internet speeds, Laila continues her online education for the opportunity to build a better life.

According to the Financial Times, online learning as a means to bypass restrictions has increased, with at least 21,000 students registering for online education at the “People’s” University in the United States in 2023.

In rural areas, where access to the internet is scarce, only 2% of women reported having internet access, compared to 25% of men, according to a Gallup survey conducted in 2022.

Rubina Azizi, the founder of the Girls on a Path of Change organization, told Khaama Press that, given the extreme limitations on girls’ education in Afghanistan, she is working to create motivation among girls for online learning.

She has been providing online programs to around 600 Afghan girls from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran for about three years.

According to Rubina, while hopelessness has peaked in Afghanistan, online education remains the only hope for girls to continue their lives in Afghanistan. However, she acknowledges that online learning cannot fully replace the physical presence of girls in schools and universities.

She adds that more girls are interested in learning English, German, and skills like writing through online education, areas where young people in Afghanistan wish to learn via online platforms.

Meanwhile, the Eurasia Review magazine published a report titled “Life under the Second Taliban Rule,” showing that nearly 100,000 female students have been left out of universities in Afghanistan.

According to this report, the progress made in girls’ education over the past two decades is at risk, leading to increased hopelessness among women and girls in Afghanistan.

The post Afghan girls embrace online education despite Internet issues appeared first on Khaama Press.