By: Rukhshana Media
The Taliban government’s acting Education Minister says the secondary schools for girls remain closed due to the cultural restrictions because Afghans don’t want to send their daughters to school in the current situation.
Speaking to a small group of people in southern Uruzgan province, Noorullah Monir said people will “revolt” against the Taliban if they reopen girls’ schools.
While allowing girls to go to primary schools and universities, the Taliban’s government has so far not allowed the reopening of girls’ secondary schools across the country, depriving millions from getting education.
The Taliban’s decision has triggered continuing protests within the country. The latest happened on Saturday, when dozens of schoolgirls and female teachers took to the streets of eastern Gardiz city, demanding the reopening of their school. Such protests have often been silenced with brutal force.
The International community has also expressed grave concerns over the closure of girls’ schools, and have repeatedly called on the Taliban not to restrict female education.
It was not clear when the Taliban may reopen girls’ schools, despite the immense national and international pressure they are facing.
Some girls’ secondary schools were reopened in some parts of Paktia including its provincial capital, Gardiz city, last month, surprising the Taliban who immediately ordered the reclosure of those schools.
The students and teachers responded by taking part in a peaceful protest in Gardiz city but they were dispersed when the Taliban fighters fired warning shots.
The Taliban’s intelligence forces questioned the principals whose schools had reopened, and the female students and teachers, who took part in yesterday’s protest, according to media reports.
