The Association of Private Universities and Institutions of Higher Education in Afghanistan has warned the Taliban government of the closure of more than 40 universities in the country if female students are not allowed to study, citing economic unfeasibility due to lack of students.
According to the union’s officials, more than 5,000 employees of private universities are out of work after the closure of universities to girls following the Taliban vote at the end of 2022, as reported by the Afghan channel Tolo News.
According to the association’s spokesman, Mohammad Karim Naseri, if a solution is not found or the measure is not reversed, many universities will not have the financial capacity to remain open, threatening that the educational institutions will transfer their funds abroad if the situation continues.
At the same time, some heads of private universities have stated that if the girls are not allowed to study, they will close their universities «forever», as reported by the aforementioned channel.
«Universities and other big investments in Afghanistan have turned a part of the country’s economy into a rotation, they will naturally stop their investments, some of them will transfer their capital and others will fall naturally,» said the founder of a famous educational complex in the country, Azizullah Amir.
Meanwhile, several university professors and female students have expressed their hope that the Taliban government will reconsider its decision and remove restrictions on girls’ education.
Fazl Hadi Vezin, a university professor consulted by Tolo News, said that closing the doors of universities and higher education centers to girls «has not only left a great impact on academic centers, but has also seriously affected the economic activities of this sector».
For her part, Ayesha, a student, said that the women’s only demand is that he open the universities and allow women to continue their education.
The Ministry of Higher Education, headed by Mullah Neda Mohamed Nadim, issued a statement on December 20 urging the suspension of the admission of women to higher educational institutions.
Since then, several human rights organizations have denounced the action, stating that «the Taliban make it clear every day that they do not respect the fundamental rights of Afghans, especially women».
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
