Some female students who took the university entrance exam in the provinces said that there were limitations on what areas of study they could select.

Female students were restricted from choosing certain majors, including those in journalism, engineering, agriculture, and veterinary, they said.

"There were limitations for girls in this year's university entrance exam in the provinces in selecting faculties. Girls were not permitted to choose the faculties of engineering and journalism,” said an exam participant named Arezo.

"Unfortunately, for girls some faculties were limited this year, such as agriculture, journalism, we could not choose,” said Sabira, another participant.

However, the Ministry of Higher Education said that some universities have limited the choice of courses for girls in the entrance examination due to the lack of students in some faculties.

"There was no restriction from the Ministry of Higher Education, but maybe some universities have told girls not to choose some faculties which two to three students are in, because there were two or three girls in each faculty and they were asking to change it and it was not easy,” said Khaliddad Taqi, spokesman of the Ministry of Higher Education.

"Limiting the selection of faculties is a clear violation of the country's education law, and it also limits the education of women," said Fardin Ayar, a university lecturer.

"The current government should be inspired by the Muslim countries of the world such as Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Iran and enable girls to study freely," said Ahmad Jahid Mushtaq, a university instructor.

Meanwhile, some of the students who took the university entrance exam said that compared to last year the number of students participating in the exam in the provinces has declined.

"The exam had fewer participants this year than it did last year. Around two thousand people had taken the exam in previous years, but this year there were only about 350,” said Uruzgan resident Samiullah Rahmani.

"The number of students has been reduced by 30%, the exam was not transparent, it was highly open, and everyone could solve the problems by consulting each other,” said Fareed Ahmad, another participant from Badghis province.

"We request the government hold the entrance exam in a more transparent way and to also announce the exam results shortly,” said Noor Ahmad, a participant from Badghis.

The entrance exam of this year began on the 14th day of the month of Mizan in 33 provinces and ended on Saturday, according to the spokesman of the Ministry of Higher Education, who also said it will be held on the 21st and 22nd days of this month in Kabul.