Taliban shut schools after govt ban bikes

GHAZNI CITY (PAN had closed schools in Andar and Deh Yak districts of southern Ghazni, in retaliation to government’s decision to ban motorcycles.

Taliban had been warning students and teachers since last Saturday not to go to schools in the two districts of the Ghazni Province, Abdul Jami Jami, deputy head of provincial council, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

“Taliban closed the schools because the Afghan government banned biking in the area,” he said, adding if the government does not cooperate to reopen the schools thousands of students would be deprived of education.

“I was teaching in the school when Taliban came and ordered us not to come to school,” said Abdul Malik, a teacher in Andar district.

Taliban closed all the schools in the district and even took away bank account cards from the teachers, he said.

Taliban had told them that the schools would be remained shut until the government allows motorcyclists to commute in the district, a teacher from Deh Yak said on condition of anonymity.

“Taliban came to our schools and forced teachers and students to leave schools. And (told) not to come to schools anymore,” he said, adding that they had informed the problem to the education department.

Taliban also took Kabul Bank account cards and told the people not to take government salaries and not to travel to Ghazni city, said the teacher.

However, Education Director Ihsanullah Nashir denied these claims, saying the schools were open for students and there was no problem in the two districts.

Taliban neither opposed education nor closed any school, he added.

Pajhwok reporter tried to get comments from the Taliban but was unable to do so.

There are more than 350,000 students studying in nearly 600 schools in the Ghazni province.

Myn/vp

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