Iran to accept more Afghan female students at Tehran University

Iran is planning to accept more female students from Afghanistan at the University of Tehran, local media reported on Tuesday.

IRNA reported that Iran has increased Tehran University’s budget for scholarships to Afghan students fivefold.

Masooma Malik, an official from Tehran University, said this would enable Iran to support more Afghan students, especially women, in 2023.

Currently, 470 Afghan students, 140 of them women, are studying at Tehran University.

More than half of these students have scholarships, the official added.

Some women’s activists in Afghanistan welcome the move, saying Afghan girls deprived of education need support.

“Under current conditions where schools, universities and other educational facilities are closed for the Afghan girls, and girls are fully deprived of education, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s move on accepting students deprived of education is a good and commendable move,” said Tarana Adeeb, a women’s rights activist.

Negina Yari, another activist, said: “Unfortunately, the educational programs of neighboring countries on Afghan girls’ education are for short term and it cannot help women and girls in the long term. Moreover, neighboring countries should politically exploit the critical situation of Afghan girls and women.”

Last month, Dubai billionaire Khalaf Al Habtoor offered to provide support to 100 Afghan female students in Dubai.