TALIBAN has banned female students from sitting in university entrance exams which are slated to take place next month in their latest decree underscoring its policy to restrict women from tertiary education.
The Taliban Ministry of Higher Education has sent a notice to the universities stating that the girls cannot apply for the exams until further notice.
A letter from the Ministry was addressed to institutions in Afghanistan’s northern provinces, including Kabul, where exams are due to take place from the end of February.
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The letter said those institutions that did not observe the rules would face legal action.
The Higher Education Ministry in December told universities not to allow female students “until further notice”.
Days later, the administration stopped most female NGO workers from working. Most girls’ highschools have also been closed by authorities.
The restrictions on women’s work and education have drawn condemnation from the West.
Afghanistan is in the midst of an economic crisis due to sanctions affecting its banking sector and a cut in development funding, with aid agencies warning tens of millions are in need of urgent aid. In 2021, the US and NATO left the country after over two decades trying to impose western education and values on the Islamic state. The Taliban now rules the country.
However, a World Bank report this week also said the Taliban administration, which has said it is focused on more economic self-sufficiency, had kept revenue collection strong last year.
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