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AUAF resumes classes; this time online and especially for girls
The American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) has announced that it is back – this time online with a Transition to Success (TTS) program for Afghan students living in the country, including women and girls.
According to a statement issued by the university and post to X, the AUAF said the program was aimed at supporting higher education opportunities for Afghan students, particularly women and girls, inside Afghanistan, and to maintain an educated workforce “which will be the basis for political and economic stabilization in Afghanistan”.
The program will be completed in one year and is designed for students who have completed grade 9 and 10 and who could not finish grade 11 due to the ban on girls education inside Afghanistan.
According to the statement, this educational program is in line with and adheres to the main values of the American University of Afghanistan, values that include commitment to freedom of expression, pluralism, free research, equal opportunities, individual rights, tolerance, and dignified personal and professional behavior.
AUAF closed its doors in Kabul in the wake of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s takeover. Authorities meanwhile banned women and girls from attending university in December 2022.
A number of female students welcomed the provision of this educational opportunity.
“I recommend that first a face-to-face lesson should be provided for a student, and the foundation of a student’s lesson should be laid face-to-face, because students learn the basics of social communication and being part of the community through face-to-face lessons, and after that we can replace the online lesson with the face-to-face lesson, in that case there is no problem,” said Tajala, a student.
Some omen’s rights activists believe that in the current situation, online education is the only educational opportunity for Afghan girls.
“Although I am not saying that online learning can be a 100% substitute for face-to-face knowledge, but in the current situation, online knowledge has become a suitable substitute for face-to-face knowledge and can fill most of the gaps created in Afghanistan’s academic environments,” said Adala Zamani, a women’s rights activist.
The Islamic Emirate says that they are not against modern science and efforts are underway to provide education for girls.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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