Editing Afghanistan (section)

===Education===
{{Main|Education in Afghanistan}}
[[File:UNESCO Institute of Statistics Afghanistan Literacy Rate population plus15 1980-2018.png|thumb|upright=1.3|UNESCO Institute of Statistics Afghanistan Literacy Rate among population aged 15+ (1980–2018)]]

[[Education in Afghanistan]] is overseen by the [[Ministry of Education (Afghanistan)|Ministry of Education]] and the [[Ministry of Higher Education (Afghanistan)|Ministry of Higher Education]]. There are over 16,000 schools in the country and roughly 9&nbsp;million students. Of this, about 60% are males and 40% females. However, the new regime has thus far forbidden female teachers and female students from returning to secondary schools.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 September 2021|title=Afghanistan: Girls excluded as Afghan secondary schools reopen|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58607816 |access-date=20 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Blue|first1=Victor J.|last2=Zucchino|first2=David|date=20 September 2021|title=A Harsh New Reality for Afghan Women and Girls in Taliban-Run Schools|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/20/world/asia/afghan-girls-schools-taliban.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/20/world/asia/afghan-girls-schools-taliban.html |archive-date=28 December 2021 |url-access=limited|access-date=20 September 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Over 174,000 students are enrolled in different [[List of universities in Afghanistan|universities around the country]]. About 21% of these are females.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usaid.gov/afghanistan/education |title=Education |publisher=[[USAID]] |access-date=26 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110231403/https://www.usaid.gov/afghanistan/education |archive-date=10 November 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Former Education Minister [[Ghulam Farooq Wardak]] had stated that construction of 8,000 schools is required for the remaining children who are deprived of [[formal learning]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2013/05/18/wardak-seeks-3b-aid-school-buildings |title=Wardak seeks $3b in aid for school buildings |publisher=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=18 May 2013 |access-date=13 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234222/http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2013/05/18/wardak-seeks-3b-aid-school-buildings |archive-date=30 December 2013|last1=Adina |first1=Mohammad Sabir}}</ref> As of 2018 the literacy rate of the population age 15 and older is 43.02% (males 55.48% and females 29.81%).<ref>{{cite web |title=UNESCO UIS: Afghanistan |url=http://uis.unesco.org/ |access-date=6 August 2020 |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref>

The top universities in Afghanistan are the [[American University of Afghanistan]] (AUAF) followed by [[Kabul University]] (KU), both of which are located in Kabul. The [[National Military Academy of Afghanistan]], modeled after the [[United States Military Academy]] at West Point, was a four-year military development institution dedicated to graduating officers for the [[Afghan Armed Forces]]. The [[Afghan Defense University]] was constructed near [[Qargha]] in Kabul. Major universities outside of Kabul include [[Kandahar University]] in the south, [[Herat University]] in the northwest, [[Balkh University]] and [[Kunduz University]] in the north, [[Nangarhar University]] and [[Khost University]] in the east.

After the Taliban regained power in 2021, it became unclear to what extent female education would continue in the country. In March 2022, after they had been closed for some time, it was announced that secondary education would be reopened shortly. However, shortly before reopening, the order was rescinded and schools for older girls remained closed.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Taliban reverses decision, barring Afghan girls from attending school beyond 6th grade|publisher=[[NPR]]|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/03/23/1088202759/taliban-afghanistan-girls-school |access-date=5 April 2022}}</ref> Despite the ban, six provinces, [[Balkh Province|Balkh]], [[Kunduz Province|Kunduz]], [[Jowzjan Province|Jowzjan]], [[Sar-e Pol Province|Sar-I-Pul]], [[Faryab Province|Faryab]], and the [[Daykundi Province|Day Kundi]], still allow girl's schools from grade 6 and up.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 2023 |title=Afghanistan: Six provinces keep schools open for girls despite nationwide ban |url=https://amu.tv/en/30372/ |access-date=17 February 2023 |publisher=AmuTV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Neda Safi |first=Tooba |date=17 February 2023 |title=Girls return to high school in some regions of Afghanistan |url=https://genevasolutions.news/explorations/dispatches-from-women-in-afghanistan/girls-return-to-high-school-in-some-regions-of-afghanistan |access-date=17 February 2023 |website=Geneva Solutions}}</ref> In December 2023, investigations were being held by the United Nations on the claim that Afghan girls of all ages were allowed to study at religious schools.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 2023 |title=UN is seeking to verify that Afghanistan's Taliban are letting girls study at religious schools |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/un-is-seeking-to-verify-that-afghanistans-taliban-are-letting-girls-study-at-religious-schools/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |website=The Seattle Times}}</ref> As of November 2024, some parts of the country allow women to attend religious schools to pursue dentistry, nursing, and other subjects.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 November 2024 |title=Taliban seeks international aid for Afghanistan's reconstruction |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3286955/taliban-seeks-international-aid-afghanistans-reconstruction |access-date=18 November 2024 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>