Afghanistan: University Entrance Exams Held for Third Year Without Female Participation

Afghanistan: University Entrance Exams Held for Third Year Without Female Participation
——————–
Afghanistan’s nationwide university entrance exam, known as the Kankor, concluded this week without any female students participating for the third consecutive year, underscoring the ongoing exclusion of girls and women from public education under Taliban rule, Amu TV reported.

The 2025 exam was administered in five phases across the country by the Taliban-controlled National Examination Authority. Since their return to power in August 2021, the Taliban have prohibited girls from taking the exam, continuing this restrictive policy.

As the final phase wrapped up—coinciding with the global observance of “World Hope Day”—tens of thousands of Afghan girls remained barred from classrooms and universities, their educational ambitions indefinitely postponed.

The initial three phases of the Kankor took place in provincial areas, the fourth phase was held in Kabul for general candidates, and the final phase catered to special applicants such as those living abroad, tribal community members, previous absentees, religious seminary students, and evening class enrollees. Girls were excluded from every phase.

The Taliban have not disclosed total participation figures for this year’s Kankor exam. However, reports indicate that approximately 25,300 male students took part in the first phase alone, held in 11 provinces.

According to UNESCO, nearly 1.5 million girls have been excluded from education since the Taliban regained control. If current restrictions continue, the number of girls out of school in Afghanistan could exceed 4 million by 2030.