Educational institutions reopen in Afghanistan

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Educational institutions reopened in Afghanistan on Wednesday after a gap of at least seven months.

Officials of the Taliban-led interim government held a ceremony to mark the new academic calendar.

Girls up to primary school also attended classes, but those above grade six were asked to stay home after authorities shut down girls' schools until a plan was drawn up "in accordance with Islamic law and Afghan culture," officials told the state-run Bakhtar News Agency.

At a function in Amani High School in Kabul, Maulvi Syed Ahmad Shahid Khel, a Taliban official, said Islam considers knowledge, and understanding "as basic principle for the good life of human beings" and the Quran as the "first and greatest source of all knowledge."

The Taliban have come under severe criticism for shutting down educational institutions for women and girls.

The interim government, however, argues that it lacks proper funding to run schools and pay for the salaries of teachers.

The Taliban returned to power after 20 years of war and conflict with foreign forces that withdrew from Afghanistan last August. The withdrawal resulted in a melt-down of the US-backed Kabul administration, paving the way for the Taliban to enter the modern-day capital city.

After the takeover, the US blocked the release of over $7 billion of Afghan reserves and later said it would divide this and hand over half of the money to victims of the 2001 twin tower attacks. The second half will be returned to Afghanistan through non-governmental organizations.