The Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan (MoHE) officials say the ministry has allocated 6850 seats for the female high school graduates in the upcoming entrance exams for the universities and high education institutes.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Higher Education Arifa Paikar told reporters in Kabul that the female high school graduates will have 6850 seats in the university entrance exams (Kankoor exams) this year in addition to the ordinary enrollment process.

Paikar also provided information in regards to the future plans of the ministry for paving the way for further enrollment of the female students in higher education institutes.

She said girls hostels will be built in Bamiyan, Kunar, Badghis, Helmand, and Takhar provinces and the construction work of the hostels is expected to concluded until the mid of the fiscal year 1397.

According to Paikar, the foundation of the first exclusive university for the female students will be laid by the First Lady during the 1397 fiscal year.

The policy for countering discrimination, sexual harassment and abuse will also be implemented in Kabul University with the start of the new educational year, she added.

In regards to the achievements of the ministry during the fiscal year 1396, Ms Paikar said 44,663 female studenets were enrolled in the government higher education institutes and universities while 43813 others were enrolled in the private higher education institutions.

In the meantime, Ms Paikar said 321 female students were introduced to the abroad universities for the Bachelors, Masters, and PhD studies and 713 others were enrolled for the same studies in the domestic universities and institutions.