Afghan Online School Darakht-e Danesh Shortlisted for Global Education Prize

Darakht-e Danesh, an Afghan online school established to provide education following the Taliban’s 2021 ban on secondary schooling for girls, has been named among the top 50 finalists for the 2026 global school prize. The award is organized by the Varkey Foundation.

The initiative was selected from approximately 3,000 applications submitted across 113 countries, competing in the overcoming adversity category. Launched in 2022, the program was created to address educational disruptions faced by Afghan students. Since its inception, enrollment has expanded from 25 to more than 700 learners, with 92 percent identifying as female. Students are currently participating from 11 Afghan provinces, as well as Pakistan and Turkey. An additional 4,000 applicants remain on a waiting list for the program.

According to an official statement from the school, the curriculum offers structured online lessons, psychological counseling, and flexible scheduling to accommodate students in different time zones and circumstances. More than half of the teaching staff consists of women, many of whom have been displaced from formal educational roles within the country.

The Varkey Foundation’s annual prize recognizes educational institutions that demonstrate significant impact and innovation in challenging environments. Finalists will undergo further evaluation before a winner is announced later this year. The recognition highlights the growing reliance on digital learning platforms in Afghanistan amid ongoing restrictions on formal schooling for adolescent girls.