The Taliban-run Ministry of Education announced Sunday that annual exams for public and private schools in Afghanistan’s colder regions will commence on November 16.
According to the ministry’s statement, exams for students in grades one through three will start on that date, while exams for grades four through twelve will begin on November 21.
The provinces designated as cold regions, which endure severe winters and significant snowfall, include Bamiyan, Daikundi, Ghor, Badakhshan, Parwan, Panjshir, Maidan Wardak, Kapisa, and Nuristan.
This comes as girls are barred from attending secondary schools for more than three years. Despite widespread international condemnation, including from Muslim nations and religious scholars, Taliban have made no moves to reverse this policy.
In addition to barring girls from secondary education, Taliban have also closed universities to women and girls, prohibiting them from pursuing higher education since taking control of the country.
While a small number of universities have permitted women to study midwifery and nursing, restrictions on female medical professionals have been tightened in certain provinces, drawing criticism from the World Health Organization.
The United Nations has warned in a report that the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education has contributed to a rise in underage forced marriages and an increase in maternal mortality rates during childbirth in Afghanistan.
