Governance and female higher education in Afghanistan

The document analyzes the centralized theocracy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan under Emir Haibatullah, focusing on how Provincial Ulama Councils (PUCs) and Provincial Governors operate. It details the history of Afghan education and the current ban on girls' secondary and university education, concluding that while internal disagreements exist within the Taliban leadership, the Emir's centralized control limits the possibility of locally negotiated education opportunities.

• The current Taliban administration is a highly centralized theocracy where full state authority is held by Emir Haibatullah and his Kandahar-based secretariat, with only limited decision-making delegated to the Cabinet.
• Since assuming power in August 2021, the Taliban have continued primary education for girls but banned secondary and university education, while also restricting women's public employment outside the health sector and certain government roles.
• Provincial Governors are appointed by the Emir based on loyalty and military experience, are accountable directly to him rather than the Ministry of Interior, and are subject to frequent reshuffles to prevent corruption and demonstrate the Emir's power.
• Provincial Ulama Councils (PUCs) are new governance bodies that report directly to the Emir, bypassing Kabul; they possess significant authority to summon provincial officials and ensure administration follows Sharia and the Emir's orders.
• PUCs generally lack the capacity or desire to advocate for national policy changes, such as girls' education, as members are often conservative and discouraged by the Emir from discussing national issues.
• Governance at the district level is disorganized, with District Ulama Councils (DUCs) lacking resources and salaries, while village representation has shifted back to traditional representatives (Maliks and Arbabs) following the dissolution of Community Development Councils (CDCs).
• Despite the official ban, some Afghan girls are pursuing higher education through homeschooling, remote digital learning, international scholarships, and by joining madrasas, some of which are incorporating secular topics.
• A July 2024 commission of religious scholars concluded that girls should be banned from school until a 'safe learning environment' is provided and the government finds its own internal revenue to fund the schools, avoiding international influence.
• There is internal friction within the Taliban leadership, with some Ministers and scholars advocating for girls' rights to higher education, though the Emir's centralized control remains the dominant force.

APA

Harpviken, K. B., & Strand, A. (2025). Governance and female higher education in Afghanistan. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/57965ae9-4bf2-4151-9dd6-34afddad9414/Strand et al - Governance and female higher education in Afghanistan PRIO Paper 2025.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Harpviken, Kristian Berg, and Arne Strand. Governance and female higher education in Afghanistan. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2025. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/57965ae9-4bf2-4151-9dd6-34afddad9414/Strand et al - Governance and female higher education in Afghanistan PRIO Paper 2025.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Harpviken |first1=Kristian Berg |last2=Strand |first2=Arne |title=Governance and female higher education in Afghanistan |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2025 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/57965ae9-4bf2-4151-9dd6-34afddad9414/Strand et al - Governance and female higher education in Afghanistan PRIO Paper 2025.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{harpviken2025governance, author = {Harpviken, Kristian Berg and Strand, Arne}, title = {{Governance and female higher education in Afghanistan}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2025}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/57965ae9-4bf2-4151-9dd6-34afddad9414/Strand et al - Governance and female higher education in Afghanistan PRIO Paper 2025.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }