Age-Wise Education System in Afghanistan (2025 Guide for Parents & Students)

Afghanistan’s education system, though structured similarly to international models, faces severe challenges due to decades of conflict, poor infrastructure, teacher shortages, and especially gender-based restrictions under Taliban rule since 2021. While early education and primary schooling are theoretically available to both boys and girls, a large number of Afghan girls have never accessed education, and those above grade 6 have been systematically barred from secondary and higher education.

Non-formal initiatives such as community-based and home-based programs strive to fill the gaps, particularly for girls, but access remains limited amid security risks, poverty, and policy repression.

The ban on female education is projected to have devastating social and economic consequences, including increased child marriage and a significant GDP loss, yet demand for education persists, with local and international actors working to preserve educational opportunities in defiance of oppressive policies.

The Beleaguered Pursuit of Knowledge: Education in Afghanistan

Education in Afghanistan, a nation scarred by decades of conflict and political upheaval, is a landscape marked by both aspiration and severe limitations. While its structure broadly mirrors international models, the actual implementation is profoundly influenced by limited infrastructure, chronic teacher shortages, and, most critically, shifting government policies, particularly concerning gender. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, the educational trajectory, especially for girls and women, has undergone a dramatic and devastating reversal.

A General Age-Wise Breakdown of the Afghan Education System:

1. Pre-primary Education (Ages 4–5):

Availability: Not universally accessible, primarily concentrated in urban centers, and largely provided through private or NGO-run programs. The Aga Khan Education Service (AKES), for instance, operates 74 pre-primary units, serving children aged three to six, utilizing an internationally recognized preschool curriculum.

Curriculum: Focuses on early childhood development, often incorporating play-based learning and foundational skills.

2. Primary Education (Grades 1–6; Ages 6–12):

Legality and Cost: Theoretically compulsory and free under Afghan law.

Curriculum: Core subjects include Dari or Pashto (depending on the region), mathematics, Islamic studies, science, and social studies. The curriculum is generally consistent nationwide, though teachers may adapt it to local contexts.

Access for Girls: Traditionally, both boys and girls were allowed to attend primary school. However, while primary schools generally remain open for girls under the current Taliban rule, almost 30% of Afghan girls have never even begun primary education due to socio-cultural norms, prohibitive costs, and safety concerns. As of early 2025, 8.9 million people are in need of education assistance, with 831.3K targeted for intervention.

3. Lower Secondary Education (Grades 7–9; Ages 13–15):

Curriculum: Expands on primary education with more in-depth subjects, often including English and computer studies in some schools. Subjects include religious studies, local languages, mathematics, natural sciences (biology, physics, chemistry), social studies, and foreign languages (English, German, French, and Russian).

Access for Girls: Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, girls’ participation in lower secondary education has been significantly restricted. As of March 2025, girls have been banned from attending school beyond Year 6 for over 1,200 days, impacting approximately 1.3 million girls in lower and upper secondary schools in the first year alone, a figure that has likely increased.

4. Upper Secondary Education (Grades 10–12; Ages 16–18):

Purpose: Prepares students for the Kankor Exam (university entrance examination).

Tracks: Students can choose academic, technical, or vocational tracks. Technical secondary education offers subjects like commerce, applied arts, teacher training, agriculture, and civil aviation.

Access for Girls: Access for girls has been almost entirely barred in Taliban-controlled areas since 2021. The systematic restrictions have made Afghanistan the only country in the world where girls are barred from education beyond the primary level.

5. Tertiary Education (Ages 18+):

Institutions: Includes universities and vocational institutes. Afghanistan has 68 institutions of higher education, with major universities including Kabul Medical University (est. 1923) and Kabul University (est. 1931).

Admission: Entry is via the competitive Kankor Exam, a standardized test administered annually by the Ministry of Higher Education, comprising multiple-choice questions in subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, literature, social sciences, Dari, and Pashto.

Cost: Public universities are generally free, while private institutions require tuition.

Access for Women: Women’s access has been severely restricted or outright banned under current policies in most provinces since December 2022, when they were suspended from universities. By January 2023, girls were further prohibited from taking university entrance exams. This has led to a projected loss of $9.6 billion to the Afghan economy by 2066 if the ban on women’s higher education persists.

Alternative and Non-Formal Education:

In response to the limitations of the formal system, especially for girls, alternative and non-formal education programs play a crucial role:

Literacy Programs: Offered for youth and adults, often integrating life skills and productive activities.

Community-Based Education (CBE): Supported by NGOs and the UN, these programs are vital, particularly for girls in remote or conflict-affected areas. UNICEF, despite the ban on secondary education for girls, has provided access to education for 445,000 children through CBE, 64% of whom are girls.

Accelerated Learning Programs: Offered by national and international NGOs, these programs cover the primary school curriculum in a shorter time to help over-age children catch up.

Home-Based Learning Programs: Specifically designed for out-of-school secondary-level girls, supported by organizations like the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF).

Vocational Training: Includes skills like tailoring, carpentry, agriculture, and handicrafts, often provided by the private sector with a monthly fee.

Online Programs: Some free online educational programs have emerged as a limited alternative, though the Taliban banned female students above 12 from English language and modern science courses in 2024, leaving religious courses and internet-mediated online programs as the main options.

Challenges and Changes:

The Afghan education system grapples with profound challenges:

Gender Disparity: The most striking and devastating challenge is the systematic ban on most formal education for girls beyond grade 6 under Taliban control (2021–present). Afghanistan now ranks last (177th out of 177 countries) on Georgetown University’s Women, Peace, and Security Index. The ban has led to an estimated 2.2 million girls being deprived of their right to education, with projections of over four million girls by 2030 if the ban continues. This has dire consequences, including an increased risk of child marriage, higher maternal mortality rates (estimated 1,600 additional maternal deaths and 3,500 infant deaths), and a shortage of qualified female health workers.

Security and Access: Many rural or conflict-prone areas continue to lack stable and safe access to schooling due to ongoing insecurity.

Teacher Shortages: There is a significant shortage of qualified teachers, particularly female teachers in rural areas, exacerbating the educational crisis.

Lack of Facilities: Decades of conflict have left much of the educational infrastructure destroyed or dilapidated. Even by 2002, 80% of all educational facilities were destroyed.

Political Instability and Curriculum Alignment: The Taliban’s rationale for the education ban includes claims that the existing curriculum does not align with Islamic principles and Afghan culture, leading to concerns about curriculum changes and quality. The inconsistent enforcement of decrees creates an atmosphere of fear.

Poverty: With more than half of Afghanistan’s population living in poverty, the economic hardship makes education an unaffordable luxury for many families, even when opportunities might be available.

Economic Impact: The ban on girls’ secondary education alone is estimated to cost Afghanistan 2.5% of its annual Gross Domestic Product. Conversely, allowing all three million Afghan girls to complete secondary education and enter the workforce could boost the economy by at least US$5.4 billion.

Despite these immense challenges, the demand for education among Afghans remains staggering, and various local and international organizations continue to advocate for and support educational opportunities, particularly for girls and women, often through clandestine or informal channels. The resilience of Afghan women and the crucial role of global advocacy remain central to the ongoing struggle for educational equality and national progress.

FAQs on Age-wise Education System in Afghanistan

What is the current state of education in Afghanistan?
Education in Afghanistan faces severe challenges due to decades of conflict, poor infrastructure, teacher shortages, and restrictive Taliban policies, especially toward girls.

How does the Afghan education system work age-wise?
It includes pre-primary (ages 4–5), primary (grades 1–6), lower secondary (grades 7–9), upper secondary (grades 10–12), and tertiary education (age 18+).

Is education free and compulsory in Afghanistan?
Yes, primary education is theoretically free and compulsory by law, but in practice, access is limited, especially for girls and children in rural areas.

Are girls allowed to attend school in Afghanistan?
Girls can attend primary school, but since the Taliban’s return in 2021, they are banned from secondary and higher education in most areas.

What subjects are taught in Afghan schools?
Core subjects include local languages (Dari or Pashto), Islamic studies, math, science, and social studies. English and computer studies are added at the secondary level.

What is the Kankor Exam?
The Kankor is Afghanistan’s university entrance exam, covering various subjects and used to determine eligibility for tertiary education.

Can women access higher education in Afghanistan?
As of 2022, women have been banned from universities and taking the Kankor exam, severely limiting their access to higher education.

What is community-based education (CBE)?
CBE programs, often run by NGOs and the UN, provide schooling in remote or conflict areas, especially for girls barred from formal schools.

What are Accelerated Learning Programs (ALPs)?
ALPs condense the primary school curriculum to help over-age or out-of-school children catch up and re-enter the formal education system.

What alternatives exist for girls banned from formal education?
Girls use home-based learning, vocational training, and limited online education, although access is heavily restricted and monitored.

How has the education ban affected Afghan girls and women?
It has led to increased child marriage, maternal and infant mortality, and loss of future income and health professionals, especially female workers.

How many girls are currently out of school in Afghanistan?
An estimated 2.2 million girls are currently out of school, a figure projected to surpass 4 million by 2030 if bans persist.

What role do NGOs play in Afghan education?
NGOs support alternative education, build infrastructure, train teachers, and advocate for access, especially for girls and rural communities.

Why has the Taliban restricted girls’ education?
The Taliban claim current curricula don’t align with their interpretation of Islamic principles and Afghan culture, prompting sweeping bans.

How is the Afghan curriculum being impacted?
There are concerns about increasing religious content and the exclusion of modern subjects like science and English for girls.

What are the economic impacts of banning girls from education?
The ban is projected to cost Afghanistan $9.6 billion by 2066 and 2.5% of its GDP annually, while full education could boost the economy by $5.4 billion.

Are there enough teachers in Afghanistan?
There is a severe teacher shortage, especially in rural areas and among female teachers, further limiting access and quality of education.

Is early childhood education available in Afghanistan?
Pre-primary education exists mostly in urban areas through private and NGO-run centers, but access is not universal.

What is vocational education like in Afghanistan?
It includes fields like tailoring, carpentry, and agriculture, often provided privately and for a fee, targeting out-of-school youth.

Can Afghan children access online education?
Some online programs exist, but access is limited, and girls above age 12 are banned from studying English and modern sciences online.

What are the main barriers to education in Afghanistan?
Key barriers include gender-based bans, poverty, insecurity, damaged infrastructure, and teacher shortages.

What is the status of secondary education for girls in 2025?
Girls have been banned from attending secondary schools for over 1,200 days as of March 2025, affecting over 1.3 million girls.

How is the international community responding?
Many international organizations continue to fund, advocate, and operate education programs, often in informal or clandestine ways.

What are the health consequences of the education ban on girls?
The ban could result in an estimated 1,600 more maternal deaths and 3,500 infant deaths due to the shortage of educated female health workers.

What is the Women, Peace, and Security Index ranking for Afghanistan?
Afghanistan ranks last (177th out of 177 countries), largely due to the systemic exclusion of women from education and public life.