Harshad Chopda becomes first finalist as Shivangi Joshi exits

KABUL: Afghan fathers are facing growing distress as their daughters remain unable to continue their education beyond primary school under restrictions imposed by the Taliban authorities. Families across Afghanistan say the education ban is creating deep emotional and financial pressure. Some fathers are openly questioning the policy, despite their religious beliefs and support for other government measures. The Taliban administration has defended the restrictions as temporary and based on its interpretation of religious principles. However, many Afghan men say they cannot understand why girls should be prevented from receiving secondary education. A United Nations survey conducted last year found that about nine out of 10 Afghan men considered it important for girls to attend secondary school. Nearly two-thirds also viewed supporting a daughter’s education as a religiously commendable act. Girls were barred from secondary schools after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Women were later also prohibited from attending universities. The restrictions have affected a large number of young Afghan women and girls. For many families, the approaching end of primary education has become a source of fear. Fathers worry that their daughters will lose their chance to pursue higher education and build professional careers. One father, identified as Ahmad, said he had never imagined that his daughters could be forced to stop studying. His wife is a mathematics teacher who is also unable to continue teaching secondary-level students. Ahmad said his eldest daughter is approaching the end of primary school. The family has considered private and underground educational options, but the cost is difficult to manage. Another father, a doctor identified as Mohammad, said he had always wanted his daughters to attend leading universities. He believes women are essential to Afghanistan’s development and should have opportunities beyond household responsibilities. His daughters are approaching the age when they will be forced to leave formal schooling. The family has considered sending them abroad, including to Pakistan, but changing regional circumstances have made that option difficult. Some families have turned to private schools that secretly provide general education alongside religious studies. These institutions often charge high fees and may not provide recognised graduation certificates. Parents also fear that authorities could take action against schools operating outside official restrictions. This leaves families caught between protecting their children and trying to continue their education. Another father from Kandahar said his young daughter has a strong interest in astronomy. She asks questions about the solar system, gravity and science. The girl reportedly asked her father how she could continue learning if she could not study beyond the sixth grade. Her question has become a painful reminder of the limited opportunities available to girls. Some families have moved to Kabul in search of better educational opportunities. Others are relying on online courses, home schooling and secret classes. The restrictions are also affecting children emotionally. Parents say many girls feel frustrated, isolated and uncertain about their future. One father said his teenage daughter often stays at home and becomes deeply upset when she thinks about her education. He said he sometimes leaves the room because he cannot control his emotions and ends up crying privately. Another family has created a home-schooling routine using old secondary-school textbooks. The parents try to maintain a school-like schedule so their daughters can continue learning. However, the parents say home education cannot fully replace a formal school environment. They worry about the lack of recognised qualifications, social interaction and access to trained teachers. Some girls have also begun attending secret classes. Their families remain concerned about possible consequences if the authorities discover them. The prolonged restrictions have created uncertainty for an entire generation of Afghan girls. Parents fear that years without formal education will limit their daughters’ future opportunities

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has submitted a proposed constitutional reform to the country’s government-controlled National Assembly that would extend presidential terms from six to seven years. The legislative body is expected to formally approve the changes in September, further cementing the rule of the 80-year-old leader, who has governed the Central American nation continuously since 2007. The proposed constitutional overhaul also includes explicit provisions to disqualify opposition figures whom the regime labels as “traitors” or “coup plotters” from seeking public office. The move follows previous constitutional amendments passed by the assembly, including the elimination of presidential term limits in 2014 and the extension of terms from five to six years in 2024. That same year, the legislature formally designated Ortega’s wife and vice-president, Rosario Murillo, as “co-president”, establishing a direct path of succession in the event of Ortega’s permanent absence. Human rights organisations and international bodies, including the United Nations, continue to raise alarms over the steady dismantling of democratic institutions in Nicaragua. Following anti-government protests in 2018 that resulted in more than 300 deaths at the hands of security forces, the regime carried out widespread arrests ahead of the November 2021 presidential election. Dozens of potential opposition candidates were detained, forced into exile, or stripped of their Nicaraguan citizenship and property, leaving Ortega to secure re-election without viable political competition.