Afghan universities reopen with some female students returning to classes

Some female students returned to university Wednesday at the same time as their male counterparts as universities reopen for the first time since the Taliban took over Afghanistan last year, Reuters reports.

The Taliban-run government has not made public a plan for female students, but education officials say that women were able to attend university classes separately from male students.

Khalil Ahmad Bihsudwal, the head of Nangarhar University, confirmed that men and women would be separated into different classes at the institution.

A female student at Nangarhar University said that her classes were separated by gender, but rules surrounding interaction with male students outside of classes and whether women are able to be taught by male lecturers have not been solidified.

“Despite all the changes and conditions, I still want to continue because my education should not be incomplete,” the medical student shared.

An education official said that separated classes and staggered hours were being implemented to keep men and women apart when they attend university classes.

The United Nations praised Afghanistan for its inclusion of female students in the return to universities.

“Let’s all support the return of Afghan young female and male students to the universities across Afghanistan,” said the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons.

Some universities reopened Wednesday, while others in colder regions including Kabul are scheduled to open Feb. 26.