The Taliban Education Department has ordered all foreign organizations including NGOs to end educational programs.
The order was announced in a voice message on WhatsApp on Wednesday.
The recording, purportedly from a Taliban official representing the department, also warns local organizations to cease any programs that don’t comply with Taliban principles.
“The activities of all foreign institutions in the education sector should be stopped immediately,” the recorded message says.
It calls on provincial employees of the Education Department to pass on the new directive to authorities in their province, warning that if any protest a written order will be sent bearing the signature of the Education Minister.
Provincial authorities are to impose a one-month deadline to ensure foreign organizations coordinate any programs with local organizations.
The directive to stop educational programs applies equally to Muslim foreign aid groups like the Agha Khan Foundation.
The Taliban have previously banned girls from going to school and university and threatened to close tuition and language centres teaching girls above 14 years of age.
