The Taliban have conducted a public examination aimed at enrolling 50,000 students in seminaries or jihadi madrassas across Kabul and various Afghan provinces.

The Ministry of Higher Education of the Taliban announced the commencement of this "annual exam" on Saturday, which is scheduled to continue until Thursday, January 25.

Neda Mohammad Nadeem, the Taliban's Minister of Higher Education, visited the exam center in Balkh province on the first day of the exams, as reported by the ministry.

These examinations are being held at a time when the Taliban has, for the past two years, barred girls from participating in university entrance exams. Since their return to power, the group has imposed restrictions on education for girls above the sixth grade and has closed universities to female students.

Human Rights Watch has observed a marked decline in the quality of education in boys' schools under Taliban rule. The organization also noted an increase in the punishment of boys in schools within the current regime in Afghanistan.