Afghanistan’s 2025 University Entrance Exams Exclude Female Students for Fourth Consecutive Year
The Taliban’s National Examination Authority has announced the schedule for Afghanistan’s 2025 Kankor university entrance exams, set to run from June 7 to July 20 across multiple provinces, Khaama Press reported. However, female students remain barred from participating for the fourth year in a row, continuing the regime’s restrictive education policies.
Abdul Baqi Haqqani, head of the authority, confirmed the exams will be conducted in Pashto, Dari, Arabic, and English, adhering to the Taliban’s curriculum. The admission quota includes 76,400 university slots and 33,500 places in semi-higher institutions. Yet, no provisions were made for female candidates, reinforcing the ban on girls’ education beyond sixth grade—a policy condemned globally since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover.
Despite the restrictions, Afghan girls like Bahara and Safa have voiced their aspirations to pursue higher education and contribute to national development. Their appeals, however, remain unmet. The systematic exclusion has severely limited women’s academic and professional prospects, with experts warning of long-term socioeconomic repercussions.
International bodies continue urging the Taliban to reverse the ban, citing violations of human rights and earlier pledges to uphold education access. The UN and foreign governments have linked aid and diplomatic engagement to progress on gender-inclusive schooling.
As the exam dates approach, the Taliban show no signs of policy shifts, leaving Afghanistan’s female students in limbo. Observers note that without intervention, the country risks deepening gender disparities and losing a generation of educated women.
