The Taliban has imposed a ban on Afghan women attending nursing and midwifery classes, further restricting their access to education and professional opportunities.
This decision was communicated during a meeting between health officials and institute directors in Kabul on December 2, 2024, though no official letter was issued.
Directors were simply informed that women and girls could no longer study in their institutes, without further explanation or justification.
The absence of formal documentation has caused confusion among educational institutions. Some directors have sought clarification from the health ministry, while others continue their operations as they await a written directive.
The ban comes as another setback for women’s education in Afghanistan, which has already been severely curtailed since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
With girls barred from secondary schools and universities, many had turned to health-related studies as one of the few remaining options.
Women now represent the majority of students in Afghanistan’s health institutes, which offer diplomas in fields such as midwifery, anaesthesia, pharmacy, and dentistry. These institutes serve about 35,000 female students.
Institute managers are concerned about the future of their institutions, with one asking, “What are we supposed to do with just 10 percent of our students?” Aysha, a 28-year-old midwifery teacher, expressed shock at the ban, saying it was a devastating blow to women who had found hope in these programs. The UK’s charge d’affaires has called the reports “deeply concerning.”
