All articles tagged with #womens education
The Taliban in Afghanistan have imposed a nationwide internet shutdown, cutting off access to online education and communication, which has devastated the hopes of women and students who relied on the internet for learning and staying connected, further restricting their rights and opportunities.
The Taliban-appointed Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, acknowledged that the continued ban on women's education is the main reason for the public's distance from the Taliban. Speaking at a graduation ceremony, he emphasized the importance of reopening schools for girls beyond grade 6, stating that a society without knowledge is "dark." The Taliban-appointed Acting Minister of Education, Habibullah Agha, also criticized the poor quality of education in the country's religious schools and called for improvement.
The Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have prevented around 100 women from traveling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for university scholarships, according to Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, the chairman of Al Habtoor Group. Al Habtoor had sponsored the female students' education and had arranged for a plane to fly them to the UAE, but the Taliban refused to allow them to board the flight. The Taliban have closed universities and high schools to female students in Afghanistan and require Afghan women traveling long distances and abroad to be accompanied by a male chaperone.
Afghanistan's universities are prepared to readmit female students, but the final decision lies with the Taliban's leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The Taliban had banned women from campuses in December 2022, and girls had been prohibited from school beyond sixth grade since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021. The Higher Education Ministry's adviser, Molvi Abdul Jabbar, stated that universities are ready to reopen for women once Akhundzada lifts the ban, but it remains uncertain when or if that will happen. The ban was initially implemented to prevent gender mixing and due to concerns about certain subjects conflicting with Islamic principles.
Japan will issue new banknotes in July 2024, featuring the faces of Eiichi Shibusawa, Umeko Tsuda, and Shibasaburo Kitasato on the 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen bills, respectively. The backs of the notes will feature images of Tokyo Station, wisteria, and a work by ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai. The banknotes will include holograms to prevent forgery and are currently being printed by the National Printing Bureau.