Taliban Bans Women from Nursing and Midwifery Studies in Afghanistan

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Senior officials at institutions offering nursing and midwifery courses in Afghanistan confirmed on Tuesday that women would no longer be allowed to attend classes, following an edict by the Taliban’s supreme leader.

Health ministry representatives informed education institute directors of the decision during a meeting in Kabul on Monday, according to a ministry official who spoke anonymously. “There is no official letter, but the directors were told that women and girls can no longer study in these institutes,” the official said. No justification or further details were provided.

An institute manager who attended the meeting reported that dozens of directors were present. Another senior employee revealed that some institutes were given 10 days to hold final exams, while others sought clarification in the absence of a written order.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, girls have been barred from education beyond secondary school, forcing many women to pursue studies in health institutes—one of the few remaining options available. Women now comprise the majority of students in Afghanistan’s 160 health institutes, which collectively enroll 35,000 female students in fields like midwifery, pharmacy, and dentistry.

“This is a big shock for us,” said Aysha, a 28-year-old midwifery teacher in Kabul. “Psychologically, we are shaken. This was the only source of hope for girls and women banned from universities.”

Health experts warn that the ban could worsen Afghanistan’s healthcare crisis. “We already face a shortage of medical and para-medical staff. This will only deepen the problem,” a ministry source noted.

The decision has drawn international condemnation. The UK’s charge d’affaires expressed concern, calling it “another affront to women’s right to education” and warning of its impact on healthcare for Afghan women and children.

For now, Afghanistan’s health institutes face an uncertain future, with some leaders questioning how they can continue to operate without their female students, who represent the majority of their enrollment.

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