While many more girls in Afghanistan now have access to an education than they did under Taliban rule, 3.5 million children still do not attend school.
What's more telling - according to a new report by humanitarian organisation Human Rights Watch - is that 85 per cent of those missing out are girls.
Only 37 per cent of adolescent Afghan girls are literate, compared with 66 per cent of boys.
'Donor drop off'
Human Rights Watch researcher Heather Barr says part of the problem is 'donor drop off' - those donating to the cause have become de-sensitised to the issues in Afghanistan and stopped giving.
Meanwhile, the money that is still coming in often goes to the government, not direct to schools.
"This is important because those community-based schools are actually a lifeline for girls," Ms Barr tells SBS News.
"That's an area where girls have been prioritised and where a lot of girls who wouldn't have had access would have been able to get an education."
Taliban troubles
The Taliban ruled Afghanistan until 2001 when they were driven from power by a US-led coalition in the aftermath of the World Trade Centre terrorist attacks.
But some areas remain under Taliban control.
Coupled with the fact that there is near-constant fighting between Taliban and Afghan fighters, going to school in rural areas is extremely dangerous.
"In these areas, schools are often closing because it's unsafe," Ms Barr says.
"Schools are sometimes used by the Afghan military or the Taliban as a fighting installation.
"Parents are less worried about sending sons out to go to school under these sorts of circumstances than they are about sending daughters."
Girls in a makeshift classroom in Afghanistan (Pic courtesy Human Rights Watch) Source: Human Rights Watch
Last year, only 13 per cent of the country's public expenditure was spent on education.
Roughly 41 per cent of schools lacked boundary walls, water, and toilets, with students often working in tents, or even outside.
"They're forced to study in the sun, because they don't even have a tent," one teacher said.
Gender issues
Afghanistan's government provides fewer schools for girls than boys at both primary and secondary levels.
Furthermore, In half the country's provinces, fewer than 20 per cent of teachers are female - a major cultural issue given many families won't accept their girls being taught by a man.
A third of girls also marry before the age of 18, and once they are engaged or married, many are compelled to drop out of school.
Distance is also a problem.
“It was very far to the nearest girls’ school, it was in another village," 15-year-old Khatera said.
"On a donkey or horse, it would take from morning until noon.”
Education for Girls in Afghanistan Source: Human Rights Watch
Rural realities
Roya Mahboob, an Afghan businesswoman and strong advocate for female education, that travelled to the US in 2017.
"We had a very good impact and progress," Ms Mahboob said.
"But in terms of quality of education, still we are very low."
Ms Mahboob acknowledges that, compared to 2001, things have got better.
"More than 30 per cent of the population of students in higher education, like university, are female," she says.
"But this is mostly happening in the bigger city."
What is most concerning, Ms Mahboob says, is the alarming lack of quality education available in rural parts of Afghanistan.
“What we need today is to bring this progress from the bigger cities to the rural areas, to areas [where] they don't have access to resources.
“I think technology is one of the greatest things that we can use to provide a better quality of education. If they don't have a teacher then we can provide remote training, online training."
She says the government should also better involve communities in rural areas.
"They [the government] need to continue discussions with them. They could be working with local leaders, and they could even work with the mosque.”
