Education
Taliban bans women from studying nursing and midwifery
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
Borno Kids Stole The Show At NYSC Camp With Flawless March Past (Video)
A group of primary school pupils from host communities in Borno State captivated participants at the NYSC orientation camp in Maiduguri with a precise and energetic marching display during the inter-platoon parade competition.
The viral footage shows four children marching confidently beside corps members, sparking loud cheers from onlookers who were visibly delighted by their coordination and enthusiasm.
The heartwarming moment quickly gained traction on social media, where users applauded the Army and the NYSC for creating an atmosphere of joy and normalcy in a region often defined by insecurity.
The children later received warm praise and encouragement from military officials and corps members at the camp, rounding off a memorable day marked by wide smiles and excitement.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR4aCOMAh4d/?igsh=dnZtdHN1azZqcnJq
Education
Teachers strike looms in Kwara over unmet demands
A statewide industrial action by the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, looms in Kwara State as a result of unmet demands to the state government.
The national body of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) criticised the state government for what it described as continued failure to address long-standing welfare concerns affecting teachers across the state.
In a letter addressed to Governor Abdulraham Abdulrazaq, the union condemned the government’s refusal to implement the 27.5% Teachers Specific Allowance (TSA) and the National Harmonized Teachers Retirement Age Act, 2022.
The letter, dated November 13, 2025, and acknowledged by the Governor’s Office on November 17, was jointly signed by the NUT National President, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, and the Secretary-General, Dr Clinton Ikpitibo.
The NUT stated in the letter that several engagements with government officials between 2023 and 2025 did not yield any positive outcome.
The union expressed disappointment that while the government had approved consolidated salary structures for medical workers, nurses, and judiciary staff, the long-standing demands of teachers remained unaddressed.
It warned that the refusal to implement the 27.5% TSA for TRCN-certified teachers and 21% for non-TRCN-certified teachers had pushed teachers in the state “into a riotous mode,” noting that frustration within the system had reached breaking point.
The NUT also criticized the government’s failure to implement the National Harmonized Teachers Retirement Age Act, which extends teachers’ retirement age to 65 years or 40 years in service.
The letter added that over 25 states had already complied with the law, lamenting that Kwara State despite being led by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, had failed to follow suit.
The union called on the governor to convene an emergency meeting before December 13, 2025, stressing that there was still room for peaceful resolution if the government acted promptly.
“We do hope that our interventionist approach is accepted, because to jaw-jaw will be better than to war-war,” the NUT said.
Copies of the letter were sent to the Acting Head of Service, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, the State Controller of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the Kwara chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the NUT.
With tension rising among teachers, the union warned that failure to address the issues urgently, could trigger a fresh industrial action that may disrupt academic activities across the state.
Education
Fed Poly Nekede, environ under siege, as masked gunmen attack 2 students
- Fear grips community over alleged threat letter
There was pandemonium within the vicinity of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State on Monday when two students of the institution were allegedly ambushed and attacked on their way back from Owerri Municipality, where they had gone to buy an electricity generating set.
A source close to one of the victims who spoke to our reporter said the two friends were driving back to the school through the Amaeze Obibi-Ezena Road at about 7:30 p.m. on Monday when they saw some people flashing torchlights by the bush side. “They initially thought they were security men and kept driving, but the one on the passenger seat suddenly noticed that those they thought were security men had their faces covered,” the source said.
He continued: “He shouted and told his friend to reverse the car. But as soon as they reversed, the gunmen opened fire and riddled the car with bullets. Fortunately, they escaped unhurt.”
The frightening incident has further fueled reports circulating in the area alleging plans by suspected Fulani herdsmen to launch coordinated attacks on Nekede-where the Federal Polytechnic is located-and neighbouring communities.
Anxiety in the area has intensified due to unconfirmed reports that the gunmen had written a letter to community leaders, demanding a certain amount of money to prevent an imminent attack. It was also alleged that intelligence reports suggest that several armed groups who have infiltrated the area have concluded plans to strike within a specific time frame. These reports further claim that the suspected attackers have been receiving supplies, arms, and ammunition for some time and are being reinforced from outside.
Recall that there have been consistent reports of frightening security challenges in the region, caused by the nefarious activities of gunmen who for a very long time have kidnapped, raped, maimed, and even killed their victims around the FUTO, Ihiagwa, Obinze, Avu, and Oforola axis- all in Owerri West Local Government Area.
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GOVERNOR FUBARA APPOINTS COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR KEN SARO-WIWA POLYTECHNIC BORI
