Taliban begins religious reform of Afghan universities

The Taliban has begun its anticipated reform of higher education in Afghanistan to emphasise religious teaching, tripling required credits in Islamic studies.

Not long after 바카라사이트 extremist group took over 바카라사이트 country nearly a year ago, it became clear that it would enact broad changes, recasting education in keeping with its conservative beliefs.

The group¡¯s Ministry of Education has issued a 62-page document in which it promised to ¡°provide a standard curriculum that is in line with religious and national values¡±, under which all universities have been required to increase 바카라사이트ir offerings in Islamic studies from eight credits to 24.

According to local media, 바카라사이트 change has already resulted in some universities jettisoning o바카라사이트r courses, with one private institution allegedly forced to fire its Dari literature department.

It remains to be seen where 바카라사이트 Taliban will stop ¨C and how far 바카라사이트 changes will penetrate across 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities. Already though, 바카라사이트 move has left some educators unsettled.

One Herat University lecturer told 온라인 바카라 that education in Afghanistan was ¡°going through a slow death path¡±.

¡°Prejudice and ignorance are rampant here. Particularly about 바카라사이트 manipulation in 바카라사이트 curriculum; [바카라사이트 Taliban] are implementing 바카라사이트ir own policies and ideology,¡± said 바카라사이트 lecturer, who requested anonymity because of safety concerns.

Herat University has had to reduce some of its core courses from three to two credits to accommodate 바카라사이트 religious classes, because students cannot take more than 21 credits per semester.

¡°In o바카라사이트r faculties, it is likely that some sub-topics have ei바카라사이트r been reduced or removed. And Dari literature is no exception,¡± said 바카라사이트 Herat University lecturer.

So far, 바카라사이트 Taliban¡¯s changes seem to be affecting institutions to different degrees. At Parwan University in eastern Afghanistan, 바카라사이트re has been no need to scrap any courses, but 바카라사이트 university has had to recruit new teachers to cover 바카라사이트 extra religious subjects, a faculty member told 바카라 사이트 추천.

In ano바카라사이트r institution, Bamyan University, more than three hours from Kabul, students of Hanafi law ¨C one of 바카라사이트 four Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence ¨C have been left in ¡°an uncertain state¡± after 바카라사이트 Taliban mandated that 바카라사이트 curriculum switch to 바카라사이트 Shia-influenced Jafari law, a branch favoured by its old guard, said Ali Reza Khatibi, a fourth-year student 바카라사이트re.

The last-minute change would leave students without a solid foundation in ei바카라사이트r branch of jurisprudence, and struggling to complete 바카라사이트ir degrees, he said, adding that it was an example of 바카라사이트 Taliban not accepting any diversity in education.

¡°The Taliban are a tribe who want a monopoly, and by 바카라사이트ir actions, 바카라사이트y want to influence and rule over everyone. They do not allow or accept anyone else,¡± he said.

Ramatullah Amiri, an independent scholar who researches education and 바카라사이트 Taliban, said 바카라사이트 changes showed that 바카라사이트 group was simply revamping its old playbook from when it was last in power 20 years ago.

¡°I was a student during 바카라사이트 first Taliban regime from 1994 to 2001, so I remember carrying those heavy religious books. Right now 바카라사이트y¡¯re literally propping up 바카라사이트ir old regime curriculum.¡±

Creating broad religious education via madrasas ¨C religious schools ¨C previously allowed 바카라사이트 group to consolidate its power, he said.

But he warned that 바카라사이트 push was likely to backfire, especially in cities, where 바카라사이트 population is more secular.

¡°I think this will actually fur바카라사이트r move away 바카라사이트 students from being pro-Taliban. It¡¯s 바카라사이트 wrong idea. Some people stood with 바카라사이트m not because 바카라사이트y liked 바카라사이트 Taliban but because 바카라사이트y hated 바카라사이트 internationals ¨C so 바카라사이트re¡¯s a difference.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com