Girls urged to continue education from home amid setbacks

KABUL (Khaama Press): Afghanistan has faced severe setbacks in various aspects, particularly regarding human rights, over the past two years. The education system has suffered the most. Nonetheless, the head of the Astronomical Society of Kayhana (Anjuman-e-Najumi Kayhana in Persian) addresses Afghan girls, encouraging them not to remain silent and to pursue education from home. The Cosmic Society recently achieved the top position in the International Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad. Amina Karimian, the society’s founder, told Khaama Press News Agency that the crucial matter is continuing the learning process, whether done from home or through formal educational channels. According to Ms. Karimian, “Ignorance makes humans fearful and brings poverty. I urge Afghan girls not to stay silent and to seek knowledge and awareness from the resources they have.” The Cosmic Society’s project was selected as the “Best Project” at the 16th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) among 52 countries worldwide. Amina Karimian, the founder of this society, states that despite Poland’s refusal to issue visas for their team, Afghanistan participated in the 16th edition of this competition held in Krakow, Poland. Ms Karimian adds that she established the Cosmic Astronomy Society in 2018 and engaged in relatively modest activities solely through social media channels. About the society, she said, “This society has 150 members and operates in various committees. 75% of the society’s members are young ladies, as they have shown more interest than boys.” The International Astronomy Olympiad takes place annually, involving elite students from different countries in theoretical, observational, and astronomical data analysis sections. The competition lasts for ten days, from August 10th to 20th. However, this year, despite the scattered presence of the Afghan team members in different countries and their lack of visas, only Ms Amina Karimian could participate in this competition by winning the first prize in the project category, representing Afghanistan. Karimian emphasized that in the “Afghan Project,” they depicted the story of girls in Afghanistan over the past two years who have been deprived of the right to education, living with an uncertain fate and fear. This contrasts with other countries, where girls are provided facilities and engaged in learning and research. The head of the organization said that the major problem is the lack of financial support. They did not get help from any organization despite being active. They had problems like paying for travel and working together, and some team members’ families were against them. She said, “We are a scientific entity and have no relationship with politics or the government, nor do we want to.” According to the official, they plan to be better prepared for competitions next year and attract new members to introduce astronomy to the people of Afghanistan more effectively. It is worth mentioning that with the resurgence of the Taliban in August 2021 in Afghanistan, the country’s educational system has suffered a significant setback. As a result, girls have been deprived of access to education, and seminaries or religious schools have gradually filled the void left by schools and universities.