Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Thousands of Afghan girls are courageously defying the Taliban’s ban on female higher education by enrolling in a secret online university founded by Zuhal, an Afghan woman whose own dreams of becoming a doctor were shattered after the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
The Vision Online University started as a small academy with just 300 students and three staff members but has grown to serve over 4,000 girls across Afghanistan with 250 volunteer educators. Courses cover practical and academic subjects like midwifery, nursing, computer science, economics, and psychology — all taught remotely through social media and chat apps to avoid detection.
Zuhal says the university offers hope and a vital lifeline to girls whose families might otherwise force them into early marriage. Despite risks of arrest and threats to the staff, the students persist, sometimes selling personal belongings to afford internet access needed to attend classes.
UNESCO has called the situation “alarming,” with nearly 1.5 million Afghan girls barred from secondary education since 2021. But this underground university stands as a testament to Afghan girls’ resilience and determination to pursue knowledge despite the Taliban’s crackdown.
Australian supporters have launched fundraising efforts to help provide internet access for these students, amplifying their chance at a brighter future. “Every day, I receive hundreds of messages thanking us,” Zuhal said. “We are no longer in depression — now we are happy. Now we can study and build a future.”
