Restrictions against girls; disappointment for girls who were expecting to attend university

Bayan News – Following the restrictions of the interim government, this time the Ministry of Higher Education has banned girls from taking the university entrance exam (Kankor) and announced that only boys can participate.

The National Examination Office announced on Tuesday (July 17) that they have only received the list of admitted male students for the Kankor exam and, according to the ministry’s order, girls are prevented from participating in the exam.

The restrictions of the interim Kabul government are increasing and have raised concerns, according to a recent two-month report (May-June) by the United Nations Assistant Mission in Afghanistan. The report explicitly states that the current government’s restrictions are still in place.

Some girls who were eligible to take the Kankor exam told Bayan News that they want to participate in this exam and strict restrictions should not be imposed on them.

Adela said that she completed the 12th grade last year and was hoping to take the Kankor exam, but now she is surprised by the Ministry of Higher Education’s decision. She went to her school to receive the exam application form, but the school did not give her the form, and now she has to wait for the final order of the Ministry of Higher Education.

Farzanah is another girl who was expecting to participate in the Kankor exam. She says that enough is enough with the restrictions against girls and women.

According to Farzanah, no society can achieve prosperity and comfort without educating and training girls. When this is a fact, how can the interim government officials deprive girls of education?