The Taliban has ordered Afghan women enrolled in midwifery and nursing courses to leave their classes, a move that cuts off one of the last educational opportunities for women in the country. This decision is part of the Taliban’s broader effort to limit women’s access to education, which has been in place since their return to power in 2021.
Several educational institutions across Afghanistan confirmed the suspension of these courses, with students sharing emotional videos of their removal. These programs had been among the few available paths for women to pursue education and build careers in a country where girls are prohibited from attending secondary school and university.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Health notified directors of health institutes that female students are no longer permitted to study, with immediate effect. This decision was made in an informal meeting, without formal written notice, and was communicated as a directive from the supreme leader. The news shocked many, with students expressing their distress in videos.
The suspension of midwifery and nursing education has significant consequences for Afghanistan’s already strained healthcare system, which is facing a critical shortage of medical professionals, especially midwives. Afghanistan’s maternal mortality rate is one of the highest in the world, and the country desperately needs more trained midwives to meet healthcare demands.
Female healthcare professionals are especially vital in Afghanistan due to gender-based policies that require a male guardian for women to receive care from male doctors. Before the ban, nursing and midwifery had been among the few career paths available for Afghan women. However, the Taliban’s decision has now left many trainees uncertain about their future.
International reactions have expressed deep concern, with critics warning that this move will further hinder Afghan women’s rights to education and healthcare. The closure of these programs is expected to worsen the already dire healthcare situation and continue to restrict professional opportunities for women in Afghanistan.
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