Several public universities in Afghanistan have reopened for female students, amid growing calls from the international community that the country improve women’s education.

The Taliban-run education ministry said on Wednesday that it reopened eight of the country’s 39 public universities.

A university in the eastern province of Nangarhar separated classes for men and women in the morning and afternoon, in line with the Taliban’s gender-segregated requirement.

Female students were back in school for the first time in half a year. They headed to classrooms with Taliban fighters standing guard and wore black robes as instructed by the education ministry.

Education officials say the remaining universities will reopen for both men and women on February 26.

However, secondary schools remain closed for girls.

The Taliban had earlier said they would create a better environment for female education within the framework of Islamic teachings.