KABUL (Reuters). Despite students returning to university in Afghanistan this month Waheeda Bayat, a law major will not be there.

She was excited to resume her studies at Gawharshad University, Kabul. But, with the economic downturn that has left millions in Afghanistan homeless, it is not possible to afford to return.

As she passed her former campus, on a recently sunny day, she exclaimed “I am so happy to be seeing my university.”

“But I wish my studies could be continued, that I could have time with my professors and classmates, and that I could visit the library to learn.

The Taliban, a hardline Islamist Taliban, are now allowing women to return to colleges. However, girls and women were not allowed in education during the previous regime. Bayat should instead be focusing on food and shelter for her nine children.

The country has been plunged into crisis by the abrupt cessation of most assistance to Afghanistan since August, when the Taliban took power.

Kabul’s parks have been transformed into shanty-towns by people who come from rural areas to get aid. Newborns are often malnourished and can fill the hospital wards. The U.N. development agency estimates that 97 percent of Afghans will be below the poverty line in the second half 2022.

Women have suffered adisproportionately severe impact.

According to data, women are losing jobs more frequently than men over the past few months. Some were forced out of work by Taliban restrictions immediately after their conquest. Also some rights that they have enjoyed for 20 years under Western-backed governments have been lost.

Bayat funded her studies by working at the local media network where she made 12,000 Afghanis ($132 per month).

Bayat’s mother and father lost their jobs. Bayat now makes traditional clothes for her family with 8,000 Afghanis.

Marzia her mother told Reuters she is worried Waheeda won’t finish her studies in their west-side home. “She’s a very hard-working little girl. It would be great if I could make some extra money for her to keep working.

Higher Education Ministry didn’t respond to queries about the effect of the economic crisis upon women’s studies or what restrictions would be placed on female students when they return to school.

FEMALES CHEER HARD

Official figures are not available to indicate how many Afghans have left college to escape economic hardships. Women seem to have a high rate of attrition.

Reuters spoke with 15 female university students in Afghanistan, Nangarhar, Nangarhar and Laghman. 8 of these said they are leaving because of financial hardships.

Another three said that they were faced with challenges and had to reduce class time or consider quitting.

Heather Barr, Human Rights Watch’s associate director for women’s rights, stated that “the humanitarian crisis” is an issue that affects women’s human rights. The economic crisis has disproportionately affected women and girls.

According to her, the Taliban’s treatment for women as well as the failure of the international community to deal with the financial crisis are to blame.

Many students are now without the support of their families.

Mahtab, a Herat-based psychology student who chose to keep her name anonymous out of fear for the safety of her family, stated that she wanted to “serve my people”

According to her, her elder sister funded her college, but she claimed she quit her job as a communications officer in the former president’s office.

The Taliban recognized her sister as having participated in the women’s demonstrations following their return to power. She fled the country fearing reprisals.

Some countries and the United Nations have expressed concern about reprisals against women rights activists. Taliban officials have stated that they are looking into the disappearances.

Women who plan to go back to public schools in Kabul, after having resumed classes in other areas on February 2, are concerned about being segregated and limited subject options. Burkas will also be compulsory.

Some areas in the country had universities that have been reopened. These types of practices reflect the stricter norms.

Others, such as liberal centers like Kabul or Herat, have still not settled the rules regarding women on campus and in classes.

Anahita (20-year-old Kabul resident, psychology student) said: “If I am forced to wear burqa by the Taliban, then I’d rather stay at home than go back to school.”

REVERSE BACK

Following the U.S. war in Afghanistan in 2001 that ended with the fall of the Taliban government, it was argued that the Western financial and military intervention in Afghanistan had been a major success.

Prior to then, nearly all jobs were out of reach for women. They could not leave their home without a male relative or wearing an all-enveloping burqa.

Large investments in girl’s schools, targeted university measures such as reserved seats for women in engineering and law, and female dormitories and childcare centres saw many women get degrees.

According to the World Bank-funded Higher Education Development Program (roughly 21,000 women), female enrolment was approximately 24% of all those who signed up for public universities in 2020. More students enroll in private institutions.

As well as concerns about the human rights of senior Taliban members and the absence of inclusive government in Afghanistan, the sanctions have effectively shut it off from any international funding.

Washington’s $7 billion plan for assets to be frozen on U.S. soil was described by Taliban leaders as an “injustice” that is unfair to Afghan citizens.

According to the United Nations’ development agency, Afghanistan’s per capita income will drop from 508 to $350 by 2020 to $350 by 2022.

Some statistics show that the crisis is affecting women particularly hard. An International Labour Organization report shows that Afghan women’s employment declined by about 16% in the third quarter 2021. This compares with an average of 6% among men.

Female students at universities face bleak job prospects.

Abdulrahman Habib from the Economy Ministry stated that Afghanistan’s suspension of foreign assistance had affected women-supporting organizations, leading to job cuts.

“The policy supports women in business has been prepared by the ministry of economy,” he stated. “We will do all we can to help them restart their business and to motivate them.”

He said that the Taliban had no problems with women who worked for them.

Roma Gul (a third-year student in political studies) is facing daunting odds as she attempts to finish her degree.

The 3,000 Afghanis that she pays in transport fees each month to travel between work, home, and campus for her part-time teaching gig barely cover this amount. There were only 1,000 Afghanis left per month to pay for her books, stationery, and to contribute to her family’s rent.

Because her job is over at one o’clock in the afternoon, she must rush to campus for the remaining two hours. She is grateful that the university has reopened.

She said, “I’m determined to finish school regardless of the difficulties.”