(Central News Agency) The Taliban government's Ministry of Higher Education has ordered private universities in the country not to allow female students to take university entrance exams starting next month.

The Taliban have also recently issued orders banning women from attending universities or working for humanitarian aid organizations.

The order was issued by the Higher Education Ministry in a letter to universities in Afghanistan's northern provinces that will hold entrance exams at the end of February, Reuters reported.

The letter also warns that schools that do not abide by the rules will face legal action.

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In December, the Ministry of Higher Education ordered universities across the country not to allow female students to enroll "unless they are notified otherwise".

A few days later, the government announced a ban on women working for humanitarian aid organizations.

In Afghanistan, most girls' high schools have long since been closed by the authorities.

The Taliban's restrictions on women's work and education have drawn widespread international condemnation.

Western diplomats say the Taliban needs to change its policy on women to have a chance of gaining formal international recognition and easing its economic isolation.

The Islamist Taliban succeeded in seizing power in August 2021.

They also largely banned women from education when they last came to power in the 1990s, but have since claimed the policy has changed.

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