Girls return to schools in 3 provinces

or the first time since the Taliban took over the control of Afghanistan, girl students returned to schools in the provinces of Kunduz, Balkh and Sar-e-Pul, said a media report.

The head of Balkh's provincial department of education, Jalil Sayed Khili, said that all girl schools have opened, TOLO News reported.

"We have segregated the girl students from the boys," he was quoted as saying. Girls in Balkh were happy to be allowed to return to school.

Sultan Razia, a female student in Balkh's capital Mazar-eSharif where there are over 4,600 students and 162 teachers, said: "Initially, there were a few students but the number is getting larger and the lessons are good."