HERAT CITY (SW): The Taliban have reportedly directed district education officials in Shindand, Herat province to exchange the subject of “culture and civilization” with religious affairs.
Abdul Naser Mawdodi, acting head of education department in Shindand district said the Taliban warned them to incorporate religious subjects in schools’ curriculum instead of “culture and civilization” subjects otherwise face dire consequences.
He told SW some families have stopped sending their children to school following the threats. “Due to security threats in this district, only two schools remain open and the rest are all closed”, he said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Razaq Ahmadi, Head of Education Department in Herat has spoken with education department officials and tribal elders in Shindand about Taliban’s recent warning. Ahmadi added efforts were underway to find a solution for the problem.
According to Herat Education Department’s officials, there are about 80000 students in Shindand district out of which 40 percent are female. Earlier, the Herat chapter of the Independent Human Rights Commission expressed grave concerns over closure of schools in some districts in the province.
In a separate development, over 50 armed rebels are said to have been killed in Herat during the first half of the year in various joint operations. Ehsanullah Hayat, Spokesman for the provincial governor told this to journalists in the provincial capital.
ENDS
