Afghanistan's university entrance examinations, known as the Kankor, resumed in Kabul on Thursday, 1 May 2025 for their third round — again without a single female candidate, marking the fourth consecutive year that girls have been excluded from higher-education testing under Taliban rule. Thousands of male candidates appeared at Kabul University for the exams, which cover 12th grade graduates from Kabul province.

Scale of the Current Examinations

Rahimullah Haqqani, administrative and technical deputy head of the Taliban-run National Examination Authority, said more than 110,000 candidates appeared across the first three rounds of the Kankor examinations. Officials expect the total to reach approximately 120,000 once a fourth and final round is completed. Registration for the fourth round remains open until 8 June.

The third round covers graduates from Kabul province, with students scheduled to sit exams across both Thursday and Friday. The Kankor is a mandatory qualifying examination for all students seeking admission to higher education institutions in Afghanistan.

The Systematic Exclusion of Girls

Since seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban has banned girls from attending secondary schools beyond sixth grade and barred women from enrolling at universities. These restrictions have directly prevented female students from sitting the Kankor — the gateway to all higher education in the country.

The ban predates the current exam cycle. Earlier in March 2025, Afghanistan's new academic year began for the fifth consecutive year without girls above sixth grade returning to classrooms, even as calls for reopening schools grew louder. The Taliban's Education Ministry marked the new academic year with a formal ceremony attended by senior officials.

International Condemnation

The United Nations, multiple foreign governments, and international human rights organisations have repeatedly criticised the Taliban's exclusion of girls from education, demanding a reversal of the restrictions. The calls have so far produced no policy change from Kabul's ruling authority.

This is not an isolated criticism — it is part of a sustained, multi-year diplomatic campaign that has included UN Security Council statements, targeted sanctions discussions, and formal resolutions. The Taliban has consistently dismissed external pressure as interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs.

Former President Karzai Renews Appeal

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai reiterated his appeal for reopening schools and universities to girls in a message issued in May. Extending Eid greetings, Karzai described Afghanistan as 'the shared home of all the people of this ancient land,' arguing that national progress depends on an educated and united citizenry.

'Our country needs prosperity and progress. But we can achieve progress and a prosperous life only when we become a united and educated nation, all our compatriots feel a sense of ownership in their homeland, and we have a strong human resource equipped with knowledge, technology, and expertise among our youth,' Karzai said.

He added: 'To reach this goal, once again I express the hope that the doors of schools and universities be opened before our girls as soon as possible, and opportunities for participation in work and affairs be provided to women and trained cadres.' Karzai also expressed condolences to families affected by recent floods in Afghanistan and paid tribute to those killed in Pakistan's recent attacks on Afghan territory.

What This Means Going Forward

With the fourth round of Kankor registrations open until June, the total exclusion of girls from the 2025 university entrance cycle is now effectively complete. Barring an abrupt policy reversal — which analysts consider unlikely given the Taliban's track record — Afghanistan's female population will have been locked out of formal higher education for a fourth straight academic cycle, deepening what the UN has described as an 'educational apartheid.'