Taliban crack down on Universities, shutter 11 institutions
The Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education announced Wednesday the revocation of licenses for 11 private higher education institutions, citing administrative and educational violations.
The ministry accused the institutions of serious failings, including the “existence of ghost teachers and students, fake agreementsexistence of ghost teachers and students, fake agreements, and a lack of qualified administrative staff.” Officials from the affected organizations will reportedly be referred to judicial authorities for further investigation.
Among the institutions targeted are Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi Institute in Ghazni, Abu Nasr in Farah, Mawlana Jalaluddin Balkhi in Samangan, and Al-Ghiyas in Herat, alongside others in Badghis, Takhar, Kunduz, Baghlan, and Balkh provinces. The ministry stated that the decision was made by its leadership after thorough investigations.
The closures add to the mounting challenges facing Afghanistan’s education system since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Many academic professionals have fled the country, citing threats to their safety and dwindling career prospects under Taliban rule. Critics argue that the regime prioritizes loyalty over competence, leaving universities understaffed and poorly managed.
Students have expressed growing alarm over the lack of qualified lecturers, warning that the deterioration of higher education could have severe long-term consequences for Afghanistan’s development.
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s restrictive policies on women’s education have further fueled international condemnation. Last week, the group banned female students from attending medical institutions, following earlier prohibitions on women enrolling in secondary schools and universities. A recent directive, dated December 8, also demanded that female administrative staff at universities vacate their positions and nominate male replacements within three days.
United Nations experts, including Richard Bennett, the special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, have condemned these actions. “If implemented, the reported new ban will be yet another inexplicable, totally unjustifiable blow to the health, dignity, and futures of Afghan women and girls,” read a joint statement from UN experts on Monday.
Rights groups and international organizations continue to warn of the devastating impact these policies will have on Afghanistan’s social fabric and future recovery. The Taliban’s education clampdown has been described as a direct assault on women’s rights and a further erosion of opportunities for the country’s next generation.
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