Few women return as universities reopen

Afghanistan's main universities yesterday reopened six months after the Taliban returned to power, but only a trickle of women returned to now-segregated classes.

Most secondary schools for girls and all public universities were shuttered following the Taliban's August 15 takeover, sparking fears women would be barred from education -- as happened during the first rule of the hardline Islamists, from 1996-2001.

The Taliban insist they will allow girls and women to be educated this time around -- but only in segregated classes and according to an Islamic curriculum.

Kabul University, the country's oldest, re-opened yesterday without fanfare -- and few students in attendance. Taliban guards refused journalists access to the sprawling campus and chased away media teams lingering near the entrance.

AFP, however, spoke to some students away from the gates, who expressed mixed feelings after their first day back.

"I am happy that the university resumed...we want to continue our studies," said an English major who asked to be identified only as Basira.

But she said there were "some difficulties" -- including students being scolded by Taliban guards for bringing their mobile phones to class.

Another student, Maryam, said only seven women attended her class. A similar picture emerged from campuses across the country, although no students returned to class at Panjshir University, in the heartland of a nascent resistance to the Taliban's rule.