Tens of thousands of Afghan girls were set to return to secondary school on Wednesday, more than seven months after the Taliban seized power and put harsh limitations on women’s educational rights.

When the Taliban seized over in August, all schools were closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak, but only boys and some younger girls were allowed to return two months later.

With numerous states and organizations offering to compensate teachers, the international community has made the right to education for all a sticking point in discussions over funding and recognition.

The education ministry said schools would reopen in numerous provinces, including the capital Kabul, on Wednesday, but those in Kandahar, the Taliban’s spiritual home, would not.

No reason was given.

The ministry said reopening the schools was always a government objective and the Taliban were not bowing to pressure.

“We are not reopening the schools to make the international community happy, nor are we doing it to gain recognition from the world,” said Aziz Ahmad Rayan, a ministry spokesman.

“We are doing it as part of our responsibility to provide education and other facilities to our students,” he told AFP.

The Taliban had insisted they wanted to ensure schools for girls aged 12 to 19 were segregated and would operate according to Islamic principles.

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