“Each subject that is against Islamic laws will be removed,” acting Minister of Higher Education Shaikh Abdul Baqi Haqqani said as quoted by the TOLO news agency on Monday. Furthermore, students of both genders will no longer be allowed to study alongside one another. The ministry also promised to launch a special program which will allow students to study abroad in the future.

Last Tuesday, Taliban’s leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada said that

“in the future, all issues of governance and life in Afghanistan will be governed by the laws of Holy Sharia.”

In a bid to implement a hardline Islamic curriculum in Afghanistan, the Taliban on Sunday said that university subjects that defy Sharia Islamic laws will be removed from higher education.

“Each subject that is against Islamic laws will be removed,” said Acting Minister of Higher Education Shaikh Abdul Baqi Haqqani in a press conference, reported TOLOnews.

Haqqani mentioned that mixed classes between girls and boys are not acceptable and some changes will be brought to the curriculum.-

A week ago, private universities and other higher education institutions were reopened but the classes were divided by gender.

Meantime, university students have even raised questions about the current state of education in Afghanistan.

Abdul Rahim, a university student said that he is worried about his future, teachers and students are not present in the university, reported TOLOnews.

Mr Haqqani was unapologetic about that change.

“We have no problems in ending the mixed-education system,” he said. “The people are Muslims and they will accept it.”

Some have suggested that the new rules will exclude women from education because the universities do not have the resources to provide separate classes. However, Mr Haqqani insisted there are enough female teachers and that where they are not available alternatives will be found.

“It all depends on the university’s capacity,” he said. “We can also use male teachers to teach from behind a curtain, or use technology.”

Girls and boys will also be segregated at primary and secondary schools, which was already common throughout Afghanistan.

Women will be required to wear hijabs but Mr Haqqani did not specify if additional face coverings would be made compulsory.

Taliban also announced that they will launch a program to send students abroad to pursue higher education.

The newly installed minister also said that the subjects taught in universities will be reviewed. He told reporters that the Taliban wanted to “create a reasonable and Islamic curriculum that is in line with our Islamic, national and historical values and, on the other hand, be able to compete with other countries”.

The Taliban’s new government has also replaced the Women’s Affairs Ministry with the Ministry of Vice and Virtue.

Sources: https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/afghan-ministry-of-education-to-change-curriculum-as-per-sharia-laws-121091300744_1.html; https://sputniknews.com/20210913/taliban-to-remove-subjects-contradicting-sharia-law-from-university-curriculum-1089027733.html; https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58537081 | Image: Evening Standard

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