Education

Taliban bans women from studying nursing and midwifery

Published

5 months ago

December 4, 2024

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Women in Afghanistan will no longer be allowed to attend nursing and midwifery classes following an edict issued by the Taliban’s supreme leader, according to senior employees at institutions offering these courses.

Health officials conveyed the directive during a meeting with institute directors in Kabul on Monday, December 2, a public health ministry official told AFP. The official, who was not authorised to speak publicly, said, “There is no official letter, but the directors of institutes were informed in a meeting that women and girls can’t study anymore in their institutes. They were not provided with any details and justification and were just told of the order of the supreme leader and were asked to implement it.”

The ruling, which lacks formal documentation, has caused confusion among educational institutions. While some managers sought clarity from the health ministry, others have continued operations as usual, pending a written directive.

The ban marks another devastating blow to women’s education in Afghanistan, which has been increasingly restricted since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Girls have already been barred from secondary schools and universities, forcing many to pursue health-related studies as one of the few remaining educational options.

Women now account for the majority of students in Afghanistan’s health institutes, which include 10 public and over 150 private institutions offering two-year diplomas in fields such as midwifery, anaesthesia, pharmacy, and dentistry. These institutes collectively serve around 35,000 women students.

Institute managers expressed concerns about the impact of the ban. “What are we supposed to do with just 10 percent of our students?” one manager questioned.

Aysha, a 28-year-old midwifery teacher in Kabul, said she was told by her institute’s management not to report to work until further notice. “This is a big shock for us. Psychologically, we are shaken. This was the only source of hope for the girls and women who were banned from universities,” she said.

The United Kingdom’s charge d’affaires called the reports “deeply concerning.”

Education

Harvard sues Trump’s administration over slashed billions in funding

Published

1 day ago

April 22, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Donald Trump

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Harvard University has sued the Donald Trump administration for freezing $2.2billion in grants.

The school bemoaned what it believes is an “unprecedented and improper” control.

“The consequences of the government’s overreach will be severe and long-lasting,” Alan Garber, Harvard president, said on Monday.

The suit was filed in the federal district court in Massachusetts. It accuses the Trump administration of flouting the First Amendment and other federal laws.

The 51-page complaint is asking a federal judge to declare Trump’s “freeze order” unconstitutional and to order a reversal.

Last week, the US president announced a freeze of federal funding after Harvard refused to accept demands that the administration has said aim to address antisemitism on campus.

“The Government has not — and cannot — identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation,” the lawsuit said in part.

Education

Abia teachers to begin strike Thursday over unpaid salaries

Published

3 days ago

April 20, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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‎The Abia State Standing Committee of the Nigeria Union of Teachers has concluded plans to embark on strike action on Thursday over what they described as “stringent measures on teachers” by the state governor, Alex Otti.

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‎They stated that the government and education stakeholders have refused to treat them well, they lamented that:
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‎(1) teachers in Abia state are not paid the minimum wage in March and the teachers salary structure wasn’t used
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‎(2)Teachers are still being retired by ASUBEB, despite His Excellency’s approval of the 65 years/40 years service extension. Promotions are released haphazardly without coordination.
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‎(3)Non-payment of arrears to teachers in basic schools remains part of the problem. Since their colleagues in SEMB have started receiving parts of their arrears, it would be justifiable for basic school teachers to be considered as well.”
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‎The strike action is expected to begin on Thursday, 24/04/2025.
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Education

Six IMSU Law Graduates Bag First Class at the Nigerian Law School

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5 days ago

April 18, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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In what has been described as a historic academic feat, six graduates from the Faculty of Law, Imo State University (IMSU) have emerged with First Class honors in the recently released November 2024 Bar Part II examination results by the Nigerian Law School.

The distinguished students—Ekwereike Sunshine, Mezu Ifeanyi, Aretola Ade Daniel, Duru Vera, Iwuoha Amarachi and Obijiaku Precious—have etched their names in gold, not just for themselves but for their alma mater and Imo State at large, as IMSU takes the lead with the highest number of First Class graduates from a single institution.

This outstanding achievement has drawn widespread commendation for the #PeoplesGovernor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, whose administration has continued to demonstrate unwavering commitment to educational development and youth empowerment in the state.

Observers and stakeholders in the education sector have attributed this success to Governor Uzodimma’s consistent financial support to state-owned institutions and his visionary leadership, which has ensured a conducive learning environment and the provision of critical infrastructure and resources for academic excellence.

Under Governor Uzodimma’s watch, Imo State University has seen massive improvements in academic standards, welfare of lecturers, and student empowerment programs. This has evidently translated to global competitiveness for IMSU students and graduates, as reflected in their recent success at the prestigious Nigerian Law School.

Education analysts describe this record-setting performance as a product of deliberate investment and strategic policies of the Uzodimma-led administration, which continues to prioritize human capital development as a core component of the 3R agenda.

With this feat, Imo State has once again reinforced its position as a citadel of academic excellence in Nigeria, thanks to the foresight and support of Governor Hope Uzodimma—a true champion of the Imo youth.

As congratulatory messages pour in from across the country, the achievements of these six young legal scholars remain a beacon of what is possible when visionary leadership meets academic dedication.