Afghanistan International reports that the Taliban is currently deliberating the transformation of schools into religious seminaries in Afghanistan. Sources reveal that Taliban members have assured foreign officials that girls can receive education in these religious schools without objections from the Taliban leader.

Taliban officials argue that there is no distinction between conventional schools and religious seminaries, emphasizing that the group imparts both professional and religious education in these institutions. The Taliban has reportedly sought financial support from the international community to sustain these religious seminaries.

In a recent Security Council meeting, the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Afghanistan highlighted evidence indicating an increase in girls attending religious schools. Following the meeting, the representative shared information from the Taliban's Minister of Education, stating that ten million children are enrolled in Taliban schools, while approximately five million others remain deprived of education.

The representative, Otunbayeva, mentioned that the Taliban's push to incorporate more children into the religious education system stems from the belief that religious seminaries align more closely with Afghanistan's cultural context. The situation raises concerns about the accessibility and nature of education under the Taliban's evolving approach.