Asma's fight for girls' education in Afghanistan ^{CEFR B1}

Asma wrote about the loss of education for millions of Afghan girls after the Taliban takeover in August 2021, when the president left the country. At first girls were allowed to sit exams, but schools and universities were soon closed to them. Asma remembered visiting her school gate to glimpse classmates, teachers and her old desk and being refused entry.

Supported by her family, she found a secret English language centre in Herat where brave teachers taught girls in private. After a year she reached an excellent level and, on the director's suggestion, became a teacher for girls her age and younger.

She read many books, applied to the online University of the People for a Business Administration degree, and received an acceptance letter to begin in April. She said she feels both excited to study and sorrowful that many other girls remain denied education. Her parents told her to study first and become independent.