35 Afghan universities could collapse after ban on women education

A domino effect due to the Taliban banning higher education for women in Afghanistan is being felt by the country's private universities, which according to an estimate are staring at imminent closure, Tolo News reported.

The sources reported, the founder of the Moraa educational centre for females Azizullah Amir saying "There is no man at this educational centre. If the implementation of this order continues, we will be obliged to close the doors of this centre".

The deputy head of Dawat University was cited in the report as saying that although universities are closed for women, he hopes this closure is only temporary.

Soon universities will be reopened for female students to continue their education.

The Taliban-appointed spokesperson for the Ministry of Higher Education, Ziaullah Hashimi, said efforts are underway to resolve the issues in the sector. 

Previously, in December this year, Taliban-appointed Acting Minister of Higher Education of Afghanistan Nida Mohammad Nadim said there is no opposition to barring women from university education in the country.

This comes at a time when the Taliban is attracting criticism over the matter from around the world.