Shocking UNICEF Report Warns of 25,000 Female Teacher and Nurse Shortage in Afghanistan

UNICEF warns Afghanistan faces a severe shortage of female teachers and health workers due to restrictions on women’s education and employment.

UNICEF has warned that Afghanistan could lose more than 25,000 female teachers and health workers by 2030 if current restrictions on women and girls remain in place.

In a new report titled “The Cost of Inaction on Girls’ Education and Women’s Employment in Afghanistan,” published Tuesday, UNICEF said limits on girls’ schooling and women’s participation in the workforce are pushing the country toward a severe shortage of skilled female professionals.

The report estimates that by 2030, around 20,000 female teachers and 5,400 female health workers could leave the education and health systems, representing roughly a quarter of the female workforce in these sectors compared to 2021 levels.

UNICEF further warned that by 2035, the number of female health workers could fall to as low as 9,600, deepening an already critical gap in essential services across the country.

The agency said more than one million girls have already been affected by restrictions on education, with that number expected to double by 2030 if policies remain unchanged.

Catherine Russell said Afghanistan “cannot afford to lose its future teachers, nurses, doctors, midwives, and social workers,” warning that continued exclusion of girls from education would have lasting consequences.

Since returning to power, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s education and employment, banning girls from studying beyond grade six and limiting women’s access to most public sector jobs.

These measures have drawn widespread criticism domestically and internationally, with rights groups and governments warning of long-term social and economic damage.

UNICEF noted that the shortage of female teachers and health workers will directly affect the quality of education for girls and access to healthcare for women and children, especially in a system where gender segregation makes female staff essential.

The report also highlighted the economic impact, estimating that the continued exclusion of women from education and employment could cost Afghanistan about 5.3 billion afghanis, or $84 million annually—equivalent to roughly 0.5 percent of the country’s GDP.

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