NINETEEN medical students from Afghanistan have arrived safely in Scotland to continue with their studies after the Taliban imposed an education ban for women in their home country.
The women, who are all studying to become doctors, landed in Edinburgh on Tuesday after the successful efforts of the Linda Norgrove Foundation charity and the Scottish Government to bring the students to the country so they can complete their courses.
The charity founders John and Lorna Norgrove, who are the parents of the Scottish aid worker Linda Norgrove who died in Afghanistan in 2010, met the students at the airport to welcome them.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth also met the group of students in Edinburgh, along with Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill, as she said the country has a proud history of welcoming those across the world who need support.
Gilruth said: “Gender should not be a barrier to accessing education, and I am pleased that the Scottish Government has been able to support these extraordinary women in their journey to complete their medical education.
“The changes we made to the legislation will ensure they can access the same benefits as their peers, including free tuition and student support. “Scotland has a proud history of welcoming people from across the world who need support.
“I wish each and every one of these inspiring women the warmest of welcomes to Scotland and look forward to the positive contribution they will make to our country.”
Handshakes and hugs were shared at the airport by all those involved as the occasion marked two years' worth of efforts by the Scottish Government and the charity to get all 19 women over to Scotland.
The Taliban had stopped girls from the age of 12 upwards from attending school three years ago as they said it didn’t comply with their interpretation of Islamic law and it is believed around 1 million women were affected by the ban.
The 19 women from Afghanistan will now be able to continue their studies once again despite last-minute drama in which two of them were initially prevented from getting on the plane.
Prior to their arrival, all the students had to undergo TB tests, English tests, and complete university interviews via Skype, before travelling to Pakistan, where they applied for visas to travel to Scotland.
The Scottish Government changed regulations so that although the women have travelled on international student visas, they are not required to pay the fees that are charged to most international students who come to Scotland to study.
The Linda Norgrove Foundation covered all the costs of getting the students to Scotland, which cost a minimum of £60,000 for the small one-employee charity.
Norgrove shared his relief that all the women arrived safely as he said: “We’re all delighted to have finally succeeded after so much frustration.
“Finally, these 19 incredibly talented young women get their future back with the opportunity of a tremendous education and a career. The alternative for them in Afghanistan wasn’t good.”
The women will attend one of four universities, St Andrews, Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen, where they will now continue their medical degrees.
