THE Gomal University administration’s decision to ban the mixing of male and female college students on the pretext of security is an absurd development, and reeks of an Afghan Taliban mindset that favours the policing of women. Female students have been told to ‘be careful’ and are also being confined to their classrooms under this rule. The move follows an outdated yet widely prevalent pattern where some officials in KP appear to be grudgingly allowing female students to receive an education. In the past, there have been numerous instances where similar thinking has resulted in the policing of female students’ clothing, or denying them access of some kind. In 2018, the KP government called for banning the entry of male MPs and politicians in girls’ schools as guest speakers. The move was highly criticised on social media by rights and education activists as a reflection of backward thinking. Then, in 2019, the provincial government decided to make the wearing of an abaya or burka mandatory, a decision that was once again criticised vehemently and ultimately reversed.

These incidents hold up a mirror to the regressive outlook on women’s right to education. If security is indeed a concern, members of the provincial government should enforce the same or stricter curbs on the movement of male students. Unfortunately, in our country, women often bear the brunt of this discriminatory attitude, which has resulted in generations of women being discouraged and restricted. The university needs to provide a logical explanation for how the curtailing of female students’ movement will improve security. The government must question the university administration’s decision and understand that, if allowed, this will be the beginning of a new wave of resistance against girls’ education in the province. In a country where ‘security’ concerns are invoked to justify all sorts of restrictions, one can only imagine to what lengths universities can go in creating problems for female students and limiting their progress.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2023