QUETTA, Nov 25: The young girls of the Hazara quarter in old Quetta city all know what they want to do when they grow up.

While the boys scratch their heads at such a question, the girls chirp up: “teacher”, “doctor”.

As refugees from the Taliban, the youngsters have been given a chance of education denied to their compatriots who have remained in Afghanistan over the past few years.

For Fatima Zainab, a mother of five daughters, the collapse of Taliban rule in Mazar-i-Sharif means that she may finally see her wish of having her children educated in their home city and take up a profession.

“We will now go back as soon as there is security,” said Zainab, who came to Pakistan two years ago.

“It is the wish of all mothers to see their children receive a good education. I want to see my children have proper jobs like as a teacher or working in the government.”

Her 12-year-old daughter, Latifah, has been learning subjects such as English and maths at a school here where teaching hours are staggered to ensure all pupils receive at least some education.

“I do not want to go back to Afghanistan as there is no school there. I want to be a teacher so it is important I carry on learning,” said Latifah.

Although, boys and girls are taught together at Latifah’s school, all her teachers are female, who have proved to be her inspiration.

Mazar-i-Sharif was one of the most advanced cities in Afghanistan before the Taliban seized power there in 1998.

Some 1,800 women were educated at the city’s Balkh University before the Islamic militia came in. It suffered the same fate as other Afghan universities, shutting down soon afterwards. The school where Zainab’s children were being taught was also closed.

“The Taliban washed their hands of education. It was then that our family decided we must leave Afghanistan. Life is not good here but at least my children can make something of their lives,” said Zainab.

The Taliban’s failure to provide education means that many children, particularly girls, lost out on schooling at a vital moment in their development.

For Sadiqa, who fled Mazar-i-Sharif about two months ago just before the start of the American bombing campaign, it is decision time whether to return home.

The 16-year-old has been working in a carpet shop in Quetta since her family’s arrival but has also been learning English and computer skills at a training centre run by fellow Afghan refugees.—AFP