A Virtual Lifeline
How online education is empowering Afghan women under the Taliban
In the months after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, panic set in among university students. Qualified professors were leaving, or already gone, and in their place, religious mullahs were covering classes. Students of science, math, humanities, and a host of other subjects watched as their syllabus changed to accommodate religious teachings. Some subjects were reframed to suit the new narrative; others were dropped for contradicting Islam.
Then, in December 2022, university life in Afghanistan changed entirely when female students were banned. Years of progress in female education came to an abrupt halt. Between 2001 and 2018, the number of girls in education in Afghanistan had increased from around 5,000 to an estimated 90,000 women. Now, they are left wondering what the future holds.
Watching events unfold, Ali Ahmadi* knew what to do. Students at the European university where he studied for his PhD in Engineering had shifted to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and were becoming accustomed to hybrid studies. Online education was a new concept in Afghanistan, where poor internet and computer access were just a few of the barriers to remote learning.
“Even under previous governments, online education was not recognized in Afghanistan, but I saw that the only way to help girls continue their studies was online,” he says.
Through the Innovation Hub, Ideas Beyond Borders supports several online learning initiatives that have emerged in the aftermath of the Taliban ban on female education, which applies to girls beyond sixth grade. However, this is the first project to provide free online learning in a university environment, and it is proving that the hybrid learning model can work in Afghanistan.
“While the current situation is difficult for Afghan women, it's important to remember that even with these restrictions, online opportunities can still offer a path forward,” says Aziza Sadeq*, General Head at the online university. In a country like Afghanistan, where many young people lack the access or resources to attend university, online learning can be an ideal solution.
“It's a powerful feeling to see our Afghan sisters thriving and learning, even in the face of adversity. We're dedicated to creating a brighter future for them through online education,” she adds.
The university administration secures three to six tutors for each course, ensuring there is always someone available to teach the most popular classes. Staff come from all over the world, tuning in to teach online from Australia, Canada, Europe, and elsewhere.
When the platform launched in January 2022, students were quick to sign up, with 700 students soon enrolled. It wasn’t long before they reached 10,000 students, which quickly grew to 100,000 across Afghanistan. “We have now reached over 400,000 students offering international-standard courses across a wide range of subjects,” says Ahmadi.
The next step is to secure permission from the regime to open a physical premises in Afghanistan and obtain accreditation for their courses online. He is confident that this model can help address the problems caused by brain drain in Afghanistan during successive wars, and restore access to the best professors for young Afghans eager to align with international standards.
“Ali Ahmadi was among the first to address the shortfall in quality higher education for students in Afghanistan. He is pioneering a new model of learning to support the country’s youth as they search for ways to secure their academic future,” says Faisal Al Mutar, President of Ideas Beyond Borders.
IBB is the first organization to provide a grant to the university, which has relied on private funding and professors working for free in their spare time. The Innovation Hub grant has allowed them to develop a proper website to convey their message and provide students with a clear outline of the courses offered.
These extend to more than 100 subjects, with some of the most popular courses including TOEFL-IBT Test Preparation, Data Science, Machine Learning, and Web Development. Languages, including Turkish, English, French, and German, are also heavily subscribed. “The majority of students are looking to go abroad because there just aren’t enough opportunities in Afghanistan,” Ahmadi says.
The issue, he continues, is not just the impact of Taliban rule but the culture surrounding education. “The resistance to education and knowledge is one of the biggest problems in this country. Many youth just see learning as a way to secure a job and salary, rather than a solution to address issues with society,” Ahmadi says.
He believes that the Taliban will ultimately lift the education bans on girls. “It is impossible to close education to all women; they will leave Afghanistan. If we are to have a united country, we must allow them to learn,” says Ahmadi. In the meantime, he hopes that opening up new avenues for learning will motivate a new generation of young people to continue their studies remotely.
“It has the potential to have a huge impact. This is our chance to support Afghan students and connect them with the world online.”
*Ideas Beyond Borders uses pseudonyms to protect the identities of our partners in Afghanistan. This article was written by Olivia Cuthbert.