وزارت تحصيلات عالي افغانستان

Overview

The Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan (MoHE) or وزارت تحصيلات عالي افغانستان, established in 1977 and headquartered in Kabul, is the central government body responsible for regulating, expanding and developing higher education across Afghanistan according to national laws and global standards. According to uniRank research, MoHE is a critical institution in the development of Afghan higher education; its efforts to enhance quality and promote research and innovation are essential for the country’s socio‑economic development.

History and Legal Framework

The concept of a dedicated ministry for higher education began in early 1970s modernization efforts. In 1977, the Ministry of Higher Education was formally established to unify all institutions offering bachelor’s and postgraduate programmes under a single authority. uniRank confirms that MoHE has since overseen policies, curricula, accreditation and institutional governance.

Afghanistan’s higher education system is governed by a series of laws and regulations issued through MoHE legal instruments. These legal documents establish institutional organisation, licensing and quality assurance.

Mission, Vision and Objectives

• Mission: To promote a public and private higher education system of high quality and capacity, responsive to Afghan societal needs and global standards and rooted in Islamic and national values.
• Vision: To cultivate institutions that are professionally managed, credible, regionally and internationally prominent and staffed by qualified and patriotic Afghan specialists.
• Objectives:
• Design and implement policies for institutional expansion and academic excellence.
• Upgrade curricula and research capacity aligned with labor market and national reconstruction.
• Train university faculty and staff through in‑service programmes.
• Forge international academic partnerships and networks.

Governance, Structure and Independence

The Ministry is responsible to the national government and operates a leadership structure that includes a Minister, Deputy Ministers and an internal Supreme Council. University leadership and coordination across provinces fall under MoHE's jurisdiction. While public universities are state‑controlled, certain private institutions also operate under MoHE licensing and oversight. However, institutional autonomy remains limited due to centralised regulation and dependency on government funding. uniRank notes that MoHE has centralized strategic control over Afghanistan’s entire higher education system.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation

MoHE sets and enforces accreditation standards for both public and private higher education institutions in Afghanistan. It maintains oversight of programme licensing, department approvals and degree recognition. According to uniRank, MoHE’s regulatory role includes quality evaluation mechanisms aimed at ensuring academic compliance with national and international standards.

Private higher education has grown significantly: by 2023, there were 128 registered private institutions serving over 151,000 students (28 % women) and employing more than 10,000 instructors (14 % women). These institutions are licensed, monitored and accredited by MoHE under its legal framework.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

MoHE engages in bilateral and multilateral collaborations supporting academic exchanges, e‑learning platforms, scholarships and research. For example, Afghanistan’s MoHE has signed a memorandum of understanding with India’s Ministry of Education enabling Afghan universities to access India’s SWAYAM online learning platform and National Digital Library service.

The Ministry participates in international donor‑sponsored programmes such as the World Bank–supported "Strengthening Higher Education Programme" linking Afghan institutions with global universities and aid organizations.

Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

MoHE continues to lead the expansion of higher education programmes: recent approvals include establishment of new PhD, master’s and bachelor’s programmes and creation of additional departments across universities.

However, since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, women have been banned from universities, effectively halting MoHE’s own goal of gender equity. This reversal undermines broader institutional objectives, global reputation and the country’s social and economic trajectory.

On the positive side, in early 2025 the Taliban spiritual leader made a rare appearance at Kandahar University and emphasised the need for both religious and modern education—a signal that higher education remains strategically important even within the current regime.

Summary

The Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan, formed in 1977, remains the central authority steering the nation's tertiary education system. Governed by national education laws, MoHE defines policy, accreditation, programme quality and institutional governance. Its mission emphasises Islamic values, academic excellence, research and service to national development. While it continues to pursue international cooperation and expansion of academic breadth, recent restrictions on women’s access pose serious setbacks. Despite challenges, MoHE remains integral to Afghanistan’s long‑term educational and social development.

FAQs

1. What is the Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan?
   The Ministry (MoHE) is the governmental body responsible for regulating, planning, accrediting and overseeing higher education institutions across Afghanistan.
2. When was it established?
   It was formally established in 1977 following earlier proposals in the 1970s to unify and modernize tertiary education.
3. What are the main objectives of MoHE?
   Its objectives include raising academic quality, aligning education with societal needs, expanding access, promoting research, training faculty and enhancing regional/international recognition.
4. How does MoHE ensure the quality of universities?
   MoHE sets accreditation standards, evaluates programmes, licenses institutions, approves departments and oversees compliance with legal education frameworks.
5. Does MoHE collaborate internationally?
   Yes. MoHE engages in partnerships such as access to India’s SWAYAM e‑learning platform and participation in World Bank and UNESCO initiatives to strengthen higher education.
6. Has MoHE’s gender policy changed recently?
   Unfortunately since 2021, Taliban authorities under MoHE leadership have banned women from universities—contradicting previous objectives of gender inclusion.

Organization Name

وزارت تحصيلات عالي افغانستان

Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan

Acronym

MoHE

Year of Establishment

1977

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

Karte Char
Kabul
Kabul Afghanistan

Phone

+93 (0)20 250 0324

Fax

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

Facebook

Not available

X (Twitter)

Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan's X page

LinkedIn

Not available

YouTube

Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan's YouTube channel

Instagram

Not available

Wikipedia Article

Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan's Wikipedia article

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