Social media reacts to new rules for female Afghan students
Women can continue to study at universities, but classrooms will be segregated by gender with head covering made compulsory.
CAPE TOWN, September 13 (ANA) – Afghan women can continue to study at universities, but classrooms will be segregated by gender, with head covering compulsory, officials said on Sunday.
Higher Education Minister Abdul Baqi Haqqani announced the new policies which include a review of subjects that will be taught to students. He did not elaborate on the subjects, but said the review would ensure Afghan graduates were competitive with those at other universities around the world.
Many had feared the Taliban would rule the way it previously did for 20 years, when women and young girls were banned from schools and universities, and music and art subjects were banned.
According to the BBC, the new policy still marks a change from the previous practice prior to the Taliban takeover, when classes were co-ed and female students did not have a strict dress code.
“We will start building on what exists today,” said Haqqani. “We have no problems in ending the mixed-education system … The people are Muslims and they will accept it.”
He said there were enough female teachers available to ensure that separated classes could continue.
The announcement came a day after the Taliban raised the flag over the presidential palace, signalling the start of its administration.
Social media users around the world have reacted positively to the fact that women can still get an education, despite the strict dress code.
“It’s not ideal, but at least women can continue to study,” said Sylvain Metz.
“To me it looks like the Taliban are trying and the future looks better than it did yesterday,” said one user, while another added that “we have all-boy and all-girl schools in US… it’s not optimal, but at least the Afghan girls/women are getting educated”.
– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa