Keeping girls out of school not in IEA interest: Analysts

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some officials and political analyst want girls’ schools above sixth grade to reopen immediately, saying their closure is not in the ‘interest of the government.

Many people say the Afghan culture is not against girls’ education and if there is any problem in creating a mechanism for female students to return to classes, the Islamic Emirate should seek people’s assistance.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to force the Taliban to act responsibly with regard to girls’ education.

In March, the Taliban shut all secondary schools for girls — hours after reopening them for the first time under their rule. The authorities promised to reopen the schools once a plan in this regard was devised. But a year on, the plan is yet to be unveiled.

Secondary schools for girls were reopened in southeastern Paktia province in response to calls from a large number of students and tribal elders.

But the schools were again closed, sparking a protest from girl students who marched through Gardez, the capital of Paktia.

Many people warmly welcomed the reopening of girls’ secondary schools in Paktia and urged the government to let female students return to classes across the country.

Delay not in interest of IEA

Dr. Farooq Azam, advisor to the Ministry of Water and Power, wrote on his Facebook page yesterday that the doors of knowledge should be opened for girls.

“One year has passed and it is enough time to take measures. It is not in the interest of the Emirate to delay it further. If we want to be free from reliance on others, our men and women must acquire necessary knowledge. Some people are now leaving the country for education of their children. This is not good”.

Acting head of General Directorate of Physical Training and Sports and National Olympic Committee chief Nazar Mohammad Mutmaen said the cries of girls, headlines in domestic and foreign media, the departure of people from the country and protests by school girls were issues that required fundamental solutions.

General Mubin Khan, former Kabul police spokesman under the caretaker government, wrote: “Leaders! Open the schools.”

He wrote under this hashtag: “Girls schools above sixth grade in Paktia have been closed again. I made a post a little while ago and I was threatened. But why? I have to buy shackles for myself and go to prison for telling the truth.”

He said leaders of the Islamic Emirate used to say they would accept every demand of the people that was not in conflict with the Shariah. But after reaching power, he alleged, the Taliban were not accepting even legitimate demands of the people.

Many individuals used this hashtag on social media and requested the government to open schools.

Political analyst Prof. Himmat Toryalai believed the masses were hopeless because girls were not allowed to go to school and one day it would spark a public backlash.

Oqab Afghan Al-Hanafi, another social media activist, said the closure of schools had fueled media propaganda. But he did not know why this situation persisted.

“When this question was raised, unfortunately, we find weak justifications…I hope the leadership would put aside this controversial issue,” he added.

Education Minister Noorullah Munib last month said “cultural limitations” were the major obstacle to the opening of girls’ schools and so far the plan to reopen the school had been completed.

Former President Hamid Karzai’s office director Abdul Karim Khurram tweeted: “For more than 40 years, I have seen many such innocent movements in the country. But the childish language and action of girls showed that our culture is not opposed to education.”

Asama Johiri worte on his Facebook page that tthe closure of schools for girls was shocking.

“The human rights council should put pressure on the Taliban to act responsibly on girls’ education.”

The deputy head of the Human Rights Watch Foundation for Women’s Rights, Heather Barr, tweeted: “The Taliban just shut down girl’s schools in Paktia – after community members pushed for them to open.”

sa/ma/mud

 

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