The Taliban Ministry of Education ordered male students and teachers from the 6th to the 12th grade to report to their schools on Saturday. The announcement, issued on Friday, did not mention female students at all, sowing fears that girls would once again be excluded from secondary education. When last in power between 1996 and 2001, the militant group banned women and girls from education and work and severely restricted their rights. But speaking to CNN on Saturday, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said women will be allowed to study. Mujahid told CNN the Taliban was working on creating a secure transportation system for girls in grades six to 12.

Source: CNN September 18, 2021 16:12 UTC