Several university professors from various institutions across the country have expressed grievances over the elimination of their positions by the Taliban. They state that the Taliban, in an unprecedented move, have dismissed a significant number of professors without reason or justification. According to them, the majority of those affected are female professors who are now confined to their homes. Some professors from universities in Kabul, Badakhshan, and Helmand report that dismissal letters have reached university administrations, but these institutions have not shown the letters to the professors, instead informing them verbally that their positions have been terminated. University professors, particularly female professors, say they have not only lost their jobs and financial independence but also their hope for a better future and academic pursuits. They claim the Taliban have systematically removed women from government structures as well.
A professor from Kabul University, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that she has been dismissed from her position at the university. She added, “At Kabul University, 264 professors and staff members have been dismissed. The dismissal letter arrived at the university on Wednesday, and starting from Saturday, all professors were verbally informed of their termination.”
The Kabul University professor further noted, “The dismissal letters for all female professors at all public universities have reached the relevant administrations, but they are not shown to us, with claims that they are confidential and should not reach the media. Unfortunately, this is a bitter reality in our country that all female professors and staff at public universities have been dismissed.” She stated that approximately 60 to 70 female professors from Kabul University alone have been dismissed, all of whom hold master’s or doctoral degrees. In addition to female professors, several male professors are also included on the dismissal list.
Meanwhile, a professor from Badakhshan University said that 36 female professors and service staff at the institution have been dismissed by the Taliban. She added, “My only hope was the 5,000 Afghanis salary that the Taliban set last year, but now even that has been taken away under the pretext of dismissal, leaving us in a completely shocking and uncertain state. Is this merely a dismissal, or is it the systematic and permanent exclusion of women from educational institutions in Afghanistan?”
The professor continued, “I taught at Badakhshan University for nearly eight years, contributing modestly to the advancement of knowledge. But with the Taliban’s ongoing restrictive policies against women and girls, this group has dismissed all female professors from universities under the guise of staff reduction. At Badakhshan University, 36 positions have been eliminated, including all female professors. Twelve female professors have been dismissed. We received this message yesterday, and the news was deeply painful. Before this final decision, the Taliban had reduced all professors’ salaries to 5,000 Afghanis, which was, in effect, a permanent exclusion of women from universities. We are now in a vague and distressing situation. Not only have we lost our jobs and financial independence, but our hope for future academic and social activities has also been taken away.”
Similarly, a professor from Helmand University stated that the Taliban have expelled 40 professors from the university, all of whom held master’s or doctoral degrees, under the pretext of staff reduction. He added that he has been sacked, despite currently pursuing a doctoral program in a neighboring country. According to him, all of these professors were hired during the previous government, but now, mullahs or Taliban members with no higher education have been appointed to the university in their place.
Concurrently, the Taliban have dismissed 90 professors and staff members at Paktia University. Sources told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that among these individuals, 35 are professors, 18 are doctors at the university’s teaching hospital, and the rest are contracted staff. The sources added that most of the dismissed professors held doctoral degrees. According to these sources, a list of additional professors from Paktia University is being prepared for dismissal.
Likewise, the Taliban have sacked 120 professors and staff members from Sheikh Zayed University under the title of “Staff Reduction.” Sources told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that these individuals were officially sacked on the Taliban’s orders. According to the sources, most of the dismissed professors held master’s or doctoral degrees and had been teaching at the university since the previous government.
Previously, the Hasht-e Subh Daily revealed in an investigative report that the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education had eliminated approximately 14 percent of its staff. Sources in that report told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that the majority of the terminated positions were held by female professors, who have been collectively and permanently barred from teaching at universities for the duration of Taliban rule.
Earlier, the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education dismissed 16 academic staff members from Parwan and Al-Biruni universities, replacing them with mullahs from religious madrasas and seminaries. Sources confirm that the recruitment of mullahs in universities is ongoing at a rapid pace.
In the latest development, the Taliban’s Ministry of Education announced in a report that over the past three years, 269 schools and approximately 23,000 religious madrasas and seminaries have been established across Afghanistan. According to the report, for every school, an average of 85 religious madrasas and seminaries have been created.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
ستیز طالبان با دانشگاهها؛ صدها استاد دانشگاه بهویژه استادان زن منفک شدند | روزنامه ۸صبح
