RASC News Agency: SIGAR, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, has recently revealed a significant development in Afghanistan’s educational landscape. An astounding influx of approximately a thousand new religious schools has been noted, all of which have now been duly registered under the Taliban’s Ministry of Hajj and Awqaf.
These findings, as shared by SIGAR, shed light on the Taliban’s innovative approach to education. The group has effectively taken existing government schools and transformed them into dedicated religious institutions. Furthermore, they are providing substantial financial backing, employing government budgets and aid for the sustainability of these schools.
In a report released on Friday, October 20th, SIGAR detailed the unparalleled surge in religious schools across Afghanistan. The Taliban’s Ministry of Education previously confirmed the registration of nearly 14,000 religious schools under their purview in the past two years alone. Astonishingly, the Taliban has allocated an estimated 200 million kabuli rupees towards supporting these educational centers.
According to SIGAR’s comprehensive report, substantial efforts have been made to convert various government schools into religious institutions in countless provinces across the country. Teacher training facilities, as well as elementary and middle schools, have been transformed to align with the Taliban’s religious education agenda. Additionally, the process of recruiting qualified educators to teach within these religious schools has commenced.
In a disheartening turn of events, SIGAR has also received reports indicating that some girls, after being deprived of secular education opportunities, have begun seeking refuge within these religious schools. The ramifications of such circumstances are profound, as equal access to education for girls has long been championed as a fundamental human right.
It is crucial to understand that the proliferation of religious schools instead of government-run educational institutions is part of the Taliban’s overarching strategy to cultivate a loyal following while garnering support. This endeavor represents a calculated long-term approach on their part, demonstrating their determination to assert religiously-centered ideologies and recruit fervent adherents.
