Taliban Holds Midwifery Exam for Returnee Women Amid Education Bans

On April 30, 2024, the Taliban's Refugee Ministry in Afghanistan held an exam for 234 returned migrant women to enroll in a three-year midwifery program in Kunduz province. The program is supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Out of the 234 exam participants, 80 women will be selected to follow the three-year midwifery course.

This exam was held amid the ongoing bans on education for women in Afghanistan, where women have been denied access to universities for the past two years and girls above the sixth grade have been denied access to schools for the third year in a row. The Taliban's Ministry of Refugees reported that the 234 returnee women participated in the exam for enrollment in the midwifery program, which is aimed at providing critical healthcare services to women in the region.

Why this matters: The midwifery exam for returnee women in Afghanistan highlights the complex challenges faced by women seeking education and healthcare access under Taliban rule. It emphasizes the importance of international support and advocacy for women's rights in the face of ongoing restrictions and bans.

The UNHCR's support for the midwifery program is a vital step in ensuring that women in Afghanistan have access to critical healthcare services, particularly in light of the ongoing education bans. The selection of 80 women from the 234 exam participants to undertake the three-year midwifery course is expected to help address the severe shortage of trained healthcare professionals in the region.

The Taliban's decision to allow the midwifery exam and program to proceed, despite the ongoing education bans, has drawn mixed reactions from the international community. While some view it as a small step towards recognizing the importance of women's education and healthcare, others argue that it falls far short of addressing the systemic discrimination and restrictions faced by women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.

The midwifery exam for returnee women in Kunduz province, held on April 30, 2024, serves as a sobering reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by women in Afghanistan seeking access to education and healthcare. The UNHCR's support for the three-year midwifery program offers a glimmer of hope for the 80 women who will be selected to participate, but much more needs to be done to ensure that all women in Afghanistan have equal access to education and critical services.

Key Takeaways

• Taliban held midwifery exam for 234 returned migrant women in Afghanistan.
• 80 women selected for 3-year midwifery program supported by UNHCR.
• Exam held amid ongoing bans on women's education in Afghanistan.
• Midwifery program aims to address shortage of healthcare professionals.
• Reactions mixed, seen as small step but falls short of addressing discrimination.