The Taliban’s supreme leader has issued a new edict barring Afghan women from attending nursing and midwifery courses, according to senior officials from healthcare institutions.
On Monday, December 2, health officials informed institute directors in Kabul about the ban during a meeting. While no formal letter has been issued, the directors were instructed to halt women’s enrollment, citing an order from the Taliban’s leadership. “There was no justification provided, just a directive to implement the decision,” a public health ministry official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The lack of formal documentation has caused confusion among institutions. Some have continued their operations while awaiting clarity, while others have suspended their programs entirely.
This ban delivers another significant blow to women’s education in Afghanistan, already severely restricted since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Women and girls have been excluded from secondary schools and universities, leaving healthcare-related studies as one of the few remaining paths to education.
Health institutes in Afghanistan include 10 public and over 150 private institutions, serving approximately 35,000 women students pursuing two-year diplomas in fields like midwifery, anaesthesia, and pharmacy. Women make up the majority of these students, and the ban threatens the viability of these institutions.
Institute leaders and educators are deeply concerned. “With only 10 percent of our students remaining, what are we supposed to do?” one manager asked. Aysha, a 28-year-old midwifery teacher, shared her dismay: “This is a big shock. It was the only source of hope for girls and women banned from universities.”
International reaction has been swift. The UK’s charge d’affaires called the move “deeply concerning,” stating it violates women’s right to education and will further limit healthcare access for Afghan women and children.
The ban also exacerbates Afghanistan’s dire shortage of healthcare professionals. “We already face a critical shortfall of medical and para-medical staff, and this decision will worsen the crisis,” a health ministry source warned.
The United Nations and global leaders have condemned the Taliban’s increasing restrictions on women, labeling the actions part of a “gender apartheid” that continues to deepen.