Karzai Calls for Reopening Girls’ Schools Following University Entrance Exam Results
Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, expressed hope for the reopening of schools and universities to girls as soon as possible, coinciding with the announcement of the 1405 (2026) university entrance exam results, so that they can continue their education and higher studies.
On Thursday, 18th Saratan (July 9), Karzai congratulated Rashid, Inamullah, and Abdulhadi, who secured the first, second, and third ranks respectively in this year’s entrance exam, on his X (formerly Twitter) page. Alongside this congratulatory message, he emphasized the right of both girls and boys to have equal access to education.
The former Afghan president described education as an essential need for the country, stressing that Afghanistan can only progress and develop by relying on the knowledge and expertise of its children, both girls and boys. He had previously expressed concern and regret over girls being deprived of participating in the university entrance exam.
These remarks come amid the Taliban’s return to power, during which secondary schools, high schools, and universities have remained closed to girls. The continuation of these restrictions has drawn widespread domestic and international criticism, with many political and social figures, including Karzai, calling for an immediate reconsideration of this policy.
