Afghan women pursuing medical training as their last hope for education have been dealt a devastating blow by the Taliban government, which has reportedly barred them from health-related studies. The decision, issued verbally by the health ministry and yet to be officially confirmed, has sparked panic and dismay among students and educators across the country.
Saja, a nursing student in Kabul, expressed heartbreak upon hearing the news. “This was my last hope to do something, to become something,” said Saja, not her real name. “Everything has been taken away from us for the crime of being a girl.” The ban marks yet another restriction on women’s rights in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, making it the only country in the world to prohibit girls’ education beyond primary school.
Multiple directors of medical training institutes revealed that the order had been communicated verbally, with instructions to halt women’s education and expedite final exams. Confusion prevails as institutions await written directives. Some have shuttered immediately, while others scramble to conduct exams. “Everyone is confused, and no one is sharing what is really happening,” said Saja, who had been in her first year at a private institute.
The scope of the ban is massive, with around 35,000 women enrolled in over 150 private and 10 public health training institutes across Afghanistan. These programs provide two-year diplomas in critical fields such as nursing, midwifery, and dentistry. The Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC), an NGO managing training for 588 women, confirmed that classes were “temporarily suspended” but stressed that even verbal orders carry significant weight.
The Taliban’s move has drawn widespread condemnation, including from international organizations like the United Nations, which has labeled the situation “gender apartheid.” Critics warn that restricting women’s participation in healthcare education will exacerbate Afghanistan’s already dire maternal and infant mortality rates—among the highest globally.
Students and educators alike are grappling with despair. Midwifery students, many driven by personal losses during childbirth, face shattered dreams. “It’s not just a profession that you choose, it’s a vocation,” said NAC country director Terje Magnusson Watterdal. Small protests have erupted in response, but hope remains elusive.
Assal, another student, received her diploma early under the new directive but doubts her prospects. “I wanted to practise medicine and study further,” she said. “They had already taken everything from us. Next thing we won’t even be allowed to breathe.”
The Taliban’s silence on the matter only deepens the uncertainty, leaving Afghan women with fewer options and dimmer futures.
