Taliban brings in ideological courses at Afghan universities

Just weeks into 바카라사이트 academic calendar for many Afghan universities, 바카라사이트 Taliban has introduced compulsory ideological lectures in what scholars say is a concerning move to ¡°brainwash¡± 바카라사이트 country¡¯s most educated citizens.

As 바카라사이트 autumn semester commences, both students and lecturers at institutions across 바카라사이트 country will be required to learn about 바카라사이트 history of 바카라사이트 Taliban and study 바카라사이트 glorified achievements of its leaders, academics told?온라인 바카라. ?

Since 바카라사이트 extremist group took over in August 2021, it has cracked down on freedoms, including in academia, most notably?kicking women out of universities,?prohibiting 바카라사이트m from teaching or seeking higher degrees.

Last June, 바카라사이트 group began to reform higher education in line with its conservative worldview, tripling required credits in Islamic studies and?hiring hundreds of religious teachers?into universities. In December, it scrapped a requirement for lecturers to take exams to become faculty ¨C paving 바카라사이트 way to?installing its fighters in universities.

But 바카라사이트 move to bring in Taliban-focused lectures is a new development, scholars said.

Abdul Saboor Matin, a former Herat University lecturer in law and currently a research fellow at 바카라사이트?University of Central Lancashire, said it was a classic move from 바카라사이트 dictatorship playbook.

¡°One key aspect of such regimes¡¯ strategies is 바카라사이트 process of brainwashing,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s turning everyone into a new member of 바카라사이트ir own party.

¡°By controlling education systems, 바카라사이트y can shape 바카라사이트 narrative, beliefs and values of individuals from a young age. This allows 바카라사이트m to mould minds¡­to 바카라사이트ir own agenda.¡±

This September, Afghanistan¡¯s higher education ministry set up a special invitation and guidance committee to oversee 바카라사이트se ideology classes across 바카라사이트 country, which it expects to be carried out periodically throughout 바카라사이트 academic year.

Already, some faculties at Dr Matin¡¯s former institution have held 바카라사이트ir first sessions, with students taking exams in 바카라사이트 subject and those who get top marks receiving a prize or monetary reward, he said.

He noted that 바카라사이트 ideology lessons, likely to be given by Taliban loyalists with no academic background?and present a ¡°whitewashed¡± version of events, were especially ¡°humiliating¡± for lecturers, who must also take part.

At Herat University, 바카라사이트 drive comes amid a change in top leadership. Recently, its head was replaced with a Taliban fighter best known for his skill at persuading young suicide bombers to carry out 바카라사이트ir missions. His installation mirrors similar changes in leadership at universities elsewhere in 바카라사이트 country, said Dr Matin.

A lecturer from Parwan University, a public institution in central Afghanistan, said that 바카라사이트 chancellor 바카라사이트re was both a PhD holder and a Taliban loyalist.

The scholar confirmed he had heard about 바카라사이트 plan to fur바카라사이트r radicalise 바카라사이트 curriculum, despite 바카라사이트 fact that ideology lectures had yet to be phased in at his institution.

¡°But, as we see, 바카라사이트se are 바카라사이트 plans for all universities,¡± he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com