Universities to reopen, female students included: Minister

KABUL (Tolo News): The government will reopen public universities for male and female students soon, the Higher Education Minister said, without giving the exact date. Since the Islamic Emirate came to power, the public universities have remained closed.
Talking to a press conference, Abdul Baqi Haqqani, Minister of Higher Education said that the classes of male and female students would be segregated. “In the coming days, the Afghans will hear the news that the Islamic Emirate will reopen the public universities,” he said. He cited the economic crisis and the lack of separated classes for male and female students as reasons for the delay.
Haqqani pledged that the government would form an international university. “We also plan to establish an international university. The university will include Shariah, Medical, Agriculture and Engineering programs. Masters and PhD degrees will be offered in these four areas,” he said. Some public university students said they have been living in uncertainty for the past six months since the Islamic Emirate closed the universities. “These six months were a long period and will affect the student’s motivation,” said Matiullah Pirozi, a student. “We are shocked that they cannot form a scheme in six months. The scheme could be easily formed,” said Mohammad Hilal, a student. According to Haqqani, some regional countries pledged to provide educational scholarships for the Afghan students.