Afghan govt to enforce gender segregation at universities

Afghanistan’s acting higher education minister said on Sunday gender segregation would be enforced in universities and that protocols were being put into place so that women can continue their studies.

Acting minister Mawlavi Abdul Baqi Haqqani told a news conference which was broadcast live that they were looking for female teachers to teach women and if there is a shortfall, male teachers would teach them, but in that case, the students would have to wear a veil and the class would be conducted using curtains or by using a TV screen.

“When there is really a need, men can also teach (women) but in accordance with Sharia, they (female students) should observe the veil, and there is a need for a curtain in the classroom so that the teacher can teach the students and by using some facilities such as (TV) screens or other modern devices,” Haqqani said.

“Thanks to God we have a high number of women teachers. We will not face any problems in this. All efforts will be made to find and provide women teachers for female students”

Earlier in the month, students started returning to university classrooms and in some cases females have been separated from their peers by curtains.