Education in Kandahar

Kandahar is the education hub of southern Afghanistan, anchored by Kandahar University — even as the sector faces some of the country's hardest access challenges.

Kandahar University

Founded in 1990, Kandahar University is the largest public university in the south. Its faculties have grown to include medicine, engineering, agriculture, economics, education, law and Sharia, journalism, and computer science, drawing students from Helmand, Uruzgan, Zabul and beyond. Its agriculture faculty works closely with the province's orchard economy — including research on pomegranate cultivation and post-harvest handling.

Schools

The city's flagship secondary schools — among them Ahmad Shah Baba High School and Zarghona Ana High School, named for the mother of Ahmad Shah Durrani — date to the mid-20th century. Government schools are supplemented by a large private sector of English- and computer-focused institutes clustered around the city center, reflecting strong demand for market skills.

Religious education

Madrasas and mosque schools remain a major part of the landscape, teaching Quranic studies and classical Islamic sciences. Historically, most Kandahari children received at least their early literacy in mosque settings, and religious scholarship carries high social prestige.

Challenges and access

Literacy in the province remains well below the national average, with a pronounced gap between the city and rural districts and between boys and girls. Since 2021, restrictions on girls' secondary and university education have sharply curtailed access for women — a defining issue for the sector's future. Community-based classes, private courses and online learning partially fill gaps where conditions allow.

Related reading

Education intersects with the region's culture and economy throughout — from the prestige of Pashto poetry in the curriculum to the university's role in agricultural exports.