Afghanistan Peace CampaignSpeaking at an event marking Japan’s support for Afghanistan’s healthcare sector, he emphasized that the lack of access to medical education for women poses a serious threat to the country’s healthcare system.
Takayoshi Kuromaya said: “I respectfully urge the de facto authorities to consider allowing girls to return to school, especially in areas such as medicine, nursing, and public health. This is not just a matter of individual opportunity, it is crucial for national health and well-being. Supporting girls’ education strengthens the entire society. It builds a healthier, more resilient Afghanistan.”
Meanwhile, girls who turned to private institutes after universities were closed are now demanding the reopening of schools and universities.
Tahmina and Marsal, two of these students, said that although university doors were closed to them, they have continued their educational paths with hope and determination.
Tahmina, a midwifery student, said: “We went through the Kankor exam with all its difficulties. We studied for a year, but then our university was shut down, which brought us a lot of depression. Still, we tried and went to private institutes, but they were closed to us as well.”
Marsal, also a midwifery student, said: “My request from the Islamic Emirate is this: we followed all your instructions we wore hijab, we wore burqas. Now we ask that the doors of schools and universities be reopened to girls so they can pursue their dreams.”
These students stress that access to education in medical fields is crucial not only for their future, but also for the health of society—especially for women and children in remote areas.
Women’s rights activists, emphasizing the need for female education, say that the continuation of these restrictions is alarming and that denying girls access to education will have long-term consequences for society.
Tafsir Siyahposh, a women’s rights activist, said: “Education is the most vital need in Afghan society today. If the mothers of tomorrow are uneducated, how can we claim to have a bright future for our beloved country, Afghanistan? Today, it is essential that the doors of schools and universities be reopened and that these growing restrictions be reduced.”
Although the Islamic Emirate has recently made no statements about reopening educational institutions for girls, it has consistently maintained that the issue is a domestic matter and has asked countries and international organizations not to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.