The 2025 University Entrance Exam dates have been announced, but female students remain excluded for the fourth consecutive year.
The Taliban’s National Examination Authority has announced the schedule for Afghanistan’s 1404 (2025) Kankor university entrance exams. The exams will be conducted in five phases from June 7 to July 20, 2025, across various provinces. However, for the fourth consecutive year, female students have been excluded from participating in the exams.
Abdul Baqi Haqqani, head of the examination authority, stated that the exams will be held in Pashto, Dari, Arabic, and English, following the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Education’s curriculum. He also mentioned that the capacity for university admissions is set at 76,400, with an additional 33,500 slots in semi-higher institutions.
Despite the official announcement, there has been no mention of the participation of female students in the upcoming exams. This exclusion continues the Taliban’s policy of denying education to girls beyond the sixth grade, a stance that has faced widespread international condemnation.
In response to this ongoing ban, many Afghan girls have expressed their desire to participate in the Kankor exams. Students like Bahara and Safa have publicly stated their aspirations to pursue higher education and contribute to their country’s development. However, their hopes remain unfulfilled due to the current restrictions.
The exclusion of female students from the Kankor exams is part of a broader pattern of educational restrictions imposed by the Taliban. These policies have led to a significant decline in educational opportunities for girls and women, raising concerns about the long-term impact on Afghanistan’s development.
The international community continues to call for the reopening of schools and universities to female students, urging the Taliban to honor their commitments to education and human rights. Until such changes occur, many Afghan girls remain deprived of their right to education, with their futures uncertain.
As the situation evolves, it remains to be seen whether the Taliban will reconsider their policies or if external pressures will lead to a change in the current educational landscape for Afghanistan’s girls.
