It's been 187 days since girls were last allowed in schools in Afghanistan and they'll continue to be held out, as the Taliban announced on Wednesday that schools will remain closed for girls above 6th grade.
Schools had been scheduled to be open again on Wednesday, but the Taliban decided to continue to keep older girls out of school, leaving many of them shocked and upset with the news.
"All girl's school and high school above grade 6 should be informed to suspend their lessons until further notice and a plan is drawn in accordance with Afghan culture and Islamic law," Aziz Ahmad Rayan, a spokesman for the Ministry of Education, said per CBS News.
The Taliban was expected to re-open schools for girls after the Afghan new year on March 21, according to CNN. Although, their plan was for girls and boys to be separated in different schools or with different time schedules.
Ian McCary, the U.S Charge d'Affairs for Afghanistan, took to Twitter and expressed his feelings about the news that girls would not be allowed back in schools, saying that the decision "contradicts many Taliban assurances."
"I'm deeply troubled by multiple reports that the Taliban are not allowing girls above grade 6 to return to school," McCary said. "This is very disappointing & contradicts many Taliban assurances & statements. All Afghan youth deserve to be educated."
This is not the first time that the Taliban has placed a ban on girls attending school, as the ruling happened from 1996 to 2001 while they were in power.
The Taliban has been in control in Afghanistan since they took over in August 2021, although they are not recognized by other countries as the official government.
The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan also tweeted about the news, saying, "The UN in Afghanistan deplores today’s reported announcement by the Taliban that they are further extending their indefinite ban on female students above the 6th grade being permitted to return school."
Students and faculty were very upset by the Taliban's decision, after they had waited for the day to return to school.
"I was awake till 2 a.m. to prepare for school," a student told TOLO News, per CBS News. "I woke up late and was very happy to return to school. But at school, I saw my principal crying. When we heard the news, all students started crying. I was not waiting for this, and I'm very disappointed."
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