Afghanistan is facing a deepening crisis in its public service sectors, with more than 25,000 female teachers and healthcare workers at risk of being lost by 2030, according to a new report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The agency described the situation as a looming dual crisis, driven by the continued restrictions on girls’ education and women’s participation in the workforce. It warned that the combination of trained professionals leaving their roles and the lack of new entrants due to education bans could severely weaken critical services.

UNICEF estimates that the country could lose up to 20,000 women teachers and about 5,400 healthcare workers by the end of the decade. The report noted that without access to secondary and higher education, girls are unable to gain the qualifications needed to replace those exiting the system.

Since the ban on girls’ secondary education was introduced in September 2021, more than one million girls have been denied the opportunity to continue their studies. If the restrictions remain in place through 2030, the number is expected to exceed two million.

Currently, girls in Afghanistan are only allowed to attend school up to Grade six, while women remain barred from university education.

UNICEF has called on the Afghan authorities to immediately lift the restrictions on girls’ education, stressing that access to learning is essential not only for individual rights but also for the country’s long-term social and economic stability.

The agency also urged the international community to sustain its support for Afghan girls, warning that failure to act could have far-reaching consequences for education, healthcare, and the broader development of the country.