Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Afghanistan’s academic community is facing new restrictions as the Taliban prohibit university lecturers from pursuing higher studies abroad without explicit permission from the country’s supreme leader, Mullah Haibatullah. This directive marks another blow to the country’s already strained higher education system, further isolating it from global academic advancements.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, the education sector has seen drastic setbacks. University lecturers’ salaries were cut by 40%, prompting many to leave the country. Restrictions on female education led to widespread resignations, with over 100 lecturers stepping down in protest. While some have turned to small businesses or left Afghanistan, those who remain increasingly view studying abroad as their only hope for professional growth and better prospects.
However, opportunities to study overseas have dwindled. Many foreign scholarship programs have ended due to reluctance from other nations to engage with the Taliban. For those securing scholarships through personal efforts, the new Taliban directive means they risk losing their positions if they pursue these opportunities.
Previously, lecturers who studied abroad retained their salaries and were allowed to resume their roles upon return. The new policy overturns this practice, further discouraging academic development.
Afghan universities, already struggling with resource shortages and a loss of talent, now face the prospect of further brain drain as restrictions tighten. The growing isolation threatens the future of higher education in Afghanistan, leaving the country’s universities and scholars in a precarious state.
