Education Against the Odds: New Program for Girls Banned from Afghan School

In a world where education is considered a fundamental right, it is disheartening to see girls in certain parts of the world being deprived of it. However, the BBC's recent efforts to educate girls in Afghanistan, who have been banned from school, are commendable. The Dars programme, which means "lesson" in Dari and Pashto, Afghanistan's official languages, is tailored to children aged between 11 and 16, including girls whose secondary education has been stopped by the ruling Taliban. The weekly half-hour episodes of Dars are hosted by BBC Afghan female journalists who were evacuated from Kabul during the 2021 Taliban takeover. The programme adapts maths, history, science, and Information and Communications Technology modules from BBC Bitesize, the BBC's free online resource for pupils in the UK. The team also wanted to make the programme feel like home, so they included Afghan cultural heritage, such as chess, in the show. As per a report in BBC news, the programme will be available via various channels, including the newly launched BBC News Afghanistan channel, BBC News Pashto and BBC News Dari Facebook channels, BBC Persian TV channel, and radio through the network of BBC FM transmitters in Afghanistan as well as on short-wave and medium-wave radio. The efforts of the BBC Afghan female journalists and producers are an inspiration, especially as they understand the value of education and the challenges faced by Afghan girls. The programme's success will not only benefit the Afghan children but also inspire hope in those who have been deprived of their right to education. The BBC's education programme, Dars, is a beacon of hope for Afghan children and especially girls who have been banned from school. It is a reminder of the power of education and how it can change lives.