Taliban’s Higher Education Minister Claims Kabul University Aims for Global Competitiveness Amid Doubts
The Taliban’s Minister of Higher Education claimed at an official meeting in Kabul that the administration seeks to bring Kabul University to a competitive level with prestigious universities worldwide. These statements come amid serious doubts about the state of higher education in the country.
Neda Mohammad Nadim made these remarks at the Ministry of Higher Education, expressing belief in the role of higher education in the country’s development. He emphasized that elevating the scientific standing of Kabul University is a priority, but provided no specific details regarding the plans, criteria, or timeline for achieving this goal.
The Minister also addressed the financial situation of university professors, stating that their salaries have been increased to 120,000 Afghanis—a figure he noted exceeds that of a minister within the Taliban administration. Nadim described this move as a sign of the Taliban’s attention to the academic status of professors.
However, independent observers and some international organizations assess these claims as contradictory to the existing realities. Extensive restrictions on academic freedoms, the exclusion of women from higher education, and ideological interference in curricula are among the challenges cited by critics, who believe these factors seriously undermine the possibility of the country’s universities meeting global standards.
