IEA official cites economic woes as a reason for closure of girls’ schools

A senior official of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has said that the financial crisis is the main reason for girls’ schools being closed.

“I think the main issue is the economic problem… all our funds are frozen outside the country,” Qalandar Ebad, the acting health minister, said in an interview with the BBC.

He said that funds are needed to build infrastructure and to pay teachers.

Apart from economic woes, there are also concerns about the syllabus and the way students dress, Ebad said.

He said a small number of female students are not happy about wearing headscarves.

In March, the IEA backtracked on their announcement that high schools would open for girls, saying they would remain closed until a plan was drawn up in accordance with Islamic law.

US special envoy for Afghan women, Rina Amiri, has said that the US will judge IEA based on their actions. She said that the ongoing sanctions against the IEA is because of their actions against women and human rights.

“IEA keeps promising they would reopen girls’ schools soon, but it seems they don’t want girls to continue their education. We want girls’ schools to reopen,” said Fatima Hamid, a teacher.