Nationwide 1405 Kankor Exam Set to Start in Four Phases Across Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s nationwide 1405 university entrance exam will begin on May 11, 2026 (21 Sawr 1405), as concerns continue over the exclusion of girls from secondary and higher education across the country.

Abdul Baqi Haqqani, head of the Taliban-run National Examination Authority, said the Kankor exam will be held in four phases this year, starting on 21 Sawr (May 11) in 15 provinces and continuing a week later in 18 more provinces.

He said the third phase will take place in Kabul on 12 Jawza (June 2), while the fourth round, covering miscellaneous exams, is scheduled for 22 Jawza (June 12). Taliban officials estimate around 120,000 candidates may sit the exam this year.

According to the Taliban, the Ministry of Higher Education has set this year’s university admission capacity at 74,505 students, while the total intake for higher and semi-higher education institutions is expected to reach 111,885 seats.

The announcement comes as the status of female Kankor applicants remains unclear. Taliban authorities have not said whether girls who completed school before the restrictions will be allowed to participate, leaving a key question unanswered.

The Kankor exam remains one of Afghanistan’s most important academic pathways, deciding access to public universities and shaping the future of thousands of students seeking higher education and professional careers.

But the process is unfolding under a deeply restrictive education system. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls and women are barred from secondary and higher education, according to UNESCO and UNICEF. An estimated 2.2 million girls are currently excluded from school beyond the primary level.

The restrictions have also widened pressure on Afghanistan’s wider education sector, with international agencies warning that prolonged bans are harming the country’s economy, health system and long-term human capital development. UNICEF has said the continuation of these policies risks creating a “lost generation” of Afghan girls.

As a result, this year’s Kankor is again being held in a climate where half of the country’s young population remains largely shut out of higher learning, raising renewed criticism from Afghan families and the international community.

The continued restrictions also deepen uncertainty for thousands of girls who had hoped to continue their education through universities, professional institutes or specialized training programs after years of study.

Overall, while the Taliban have outlined the technical schedule and capacity for the 1405 Kankor, the broader legitimacy of the process remains overshadowed by the unresolved issue of girls’ right to education in Afghanistan.

The post Nationwide 1405 Kankor Exam Set to Start in Four Phases Across Afghanistan appeared first on Khaama Press.