Several Kabul University staff members report the imposition of restrictions on academic activities and the suspension of teaching in some fields of study and faculties. According to them, a delegation made up of a number of religious scholars affiliated with the Taliban, who, according to these sources, had come to Kabul from Kandahar and some other provinces, was present at the university for several months and revised the curriculum content of the faculties based on their own views.
These staff members, speaking with the Hasht-e Subh Daily, say the Taliban have suspended the teaching of several academic fields and have also removed or altered some course subjects from the educational programs. Meanwhile, several Kabul University students also emphasize students’ freedom to choose and continue their fields of study without the imposition of restrictions.
Amin (pseudonym), one of the Kabul University staff members, reports the imposition of extensive restrictions and the removal of several fields of study and course subjects by the Taliban at this university. He says that under regulations imposed by the Taliban, some academic fields and subjects have faced serious restrictions.
This Kabul University staff member says: “The greatest restrictions have been imposed on the fine arts fields, including music, theater, and some branches of the performing arts. At many universities, educational activities and student admission in these fields have been suspended or severely restricted.” According to him, the faculties of fine arts at many universities in Afghanistan have either suspended their activities or continue to operate under severe restrictions.
Amin adds: “Likewise, some fields and subjects in the areas of law, political science, sociology, human rights, democracy, moral philosophy, and women’s studies have been removed or fundamentally revised.”
Rohullah (pseudonym), another Kabul University staff member, says the Taliban have suspended the teaching of several academic fields and have also removed or altered some course subjects from the educational programs.
This Kabul University staff member says: “The music program has effectively been suspended. Theater and the performing arts have also been suspended or face severe restrictions at many educational centers. In the Faculty of Law and Political Science, parts of the curriculum have been removed or altered, and in the sociology field as well, some subjects have been dropped from the educational syllabus.”
Rohullah adds: “In the philosophy field as well, some course topics have been removed or restricted. The journalism field has also faced changes and restrictions in its educational content. Likewise, subjects related to women’s studies and human rights have been removed from the curriculum at many universities.”
Nawid (pseudonym), another Kabul University staff member, says a delegation made up of a number of religious scholars, who, according to him,m had come to Kabul from Kandahar and some other provinces, were present at the university for several months and revised the curriculum content of the faculties. He adds: “This delegation restructured the educational system according to its own views. They removed many textbooks from the educational programs because they did not conform to Islamic sharia, and in their place, included the curriculum and subjects of their choosing. Likewise, they dismissed or reduced the number of several professors and appointed individuals of their own choosing in their place, particularly in departments related to Islamic culture.”
Obaid (pseudonym), one of the Kabul University students, emphasizes students’ freedom to choose and continue their fields of study without the imposition of restrictions. He says: “As a student, I believe that the more freedom students have in choosing and continuing their field of study, the better they will be able to benefit from the university’s educational opportunities. Instead of imposing restrictions, conditions should be created so that students can study during their academic years with freedom and based on their own interests and abilities.”
This comes as several Kabul University staff members had complained the previous day about what they call “the Taliban’s double standards and discriminatory treatment” of the university’s staff members. They had said that the Taliban discriminate between staff members of the previous government and individuals hired after this group came to power, and treat former staff members with contempt.
According to these staff members, several individuals who previously held managerial and higher positions were assigned to lower positions, and their salaries and benefits have also been reduced.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
منابع: طالبان رشتهها و مضامین دانشگاه کابل را حذف و محدود کردهاند
