KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education has announced plans to award bachelor’s degrees to 11,000 madrasa students and master’s degrees to 15,000 clerics. The ministry stated that examinations for granting these degrees will be held across 31 provinces.
However, many citizens and experts have criticized the move as an injustice to Afghanistan’s educational system, arguing that it undermines academic standards.
According to the ministry, the examination process began on Saturday and is expected to continue for five days.
“The Taliban’s decision to grant degrees to madrasa students and clerics is unfair and unacceptable,” said one Kabul resident. “Instead of supporting madrasas and clerics, the Taliban should reopen schools and universities for girls.”
Another Kabul resident echoed this sentiment, saying, “The Taliban have deprived thousands of women and girls of modern education while investing in madrasas and clerics. This is a grave injustice to the people of Afghanistan.”
The Taliban have prioritized building madrasas and elevating the status of religious scholars in governmental and educational structures—an approach that critics say could have damaging consequences for the country’s social and cultural fabric.
Sayed Massoud, a university professor, called the move a violation of academic standards. “Granting bachelor’s and master’s degrees to madrasa students and clerics goes against the policies of the Ministry of Higher Education. The Taliban are doing this extralegally to bolster their human resources,” he said.
Since returning to power, the Taliban have barred women and girls from education, employment, and even medical training. Meanwhile, they have expanded madrasa programs, increased support for clerics, overhauled educational curricula, and imposed severe restrictions on social freedoms—particularly for women.
Critics warn that these measures are driving Afghan society toward greater extremism.
