The start of the semester was a disappointment for many girls in Afghanistan who would be allowed to go to school for the first time since the Taliban took power in the country this summer.
Girls have been sent home from several schools, reports the news agency AFP, which was on site at the girls' school Zarghona in the capital Kabul.
- Suddenly we were told to leave until other decisions were made, says Azimi, who would go back to year twelve.
What have we done wrong?
Why do women and girls have to endure this?
I ask the Islamic Emirate to open our lessons.
Crying students
With tears in their eyes, the students packed their things - just hours after the school opened.
- It is painful to see their students cry, says teacher Palwasha.
Many have feared that the Taliban would ban girls from going to school, just as the last time the extremist movement ruled the country in 1996-2001.
The Taliban regime has promised that this will not be the case, and younger girls and boys have been able to go to school since last autumn.
On Wednesday, the schools would open for girls in grades six and up.
Inamullah Samangani, one of the Taliban's spokesmen, confirmed that the girls had been sent home.
- Yes, that's right, he says.
Afghanistan expert: Extensive changes required
The situation for women has worsened with a number of new rules introduced by the Taliban, according to Afghanistan expert Helene Lackenbauer at the Swedish Defense Research Agency, FOI.
Among other things, their freedom of movement has been restricted.
Ideally, they should bring a male escort with them when moving outside the home.
Airlines have also been urged to stop women wanting to fly themselves.
- At the same time, it should be remembered that the situation of women before the takeover was not very good either.
Even then, there was still a long way to go for women to have equal conditions.
Extensive structural changes are required, she tells SVT's Morgonstudion.