Taliban Unveils New University Curriculum Amid Concerns Over Educational Restrictions

The Taliban’s higher education minister, Neda Mohammad Nadim, announced the development of a new university curriculum designed to align with market demands, sparking concerns from human rights organizations about the exclusion of modern subjects.

In a statement made during the “National Labor Conference” on Tuesday, Nadim revealed that the Taliban has replaced the previous university curriculum with a new one that awaits approval from the council of ministers, Amu TV reported.

The article added he has emphasized that the revised curriculum aims to better meet the needs of society, stating, “The subjects that were part of the previous government have been removed.”

This announcement has raised alarms among human rights advocates, who fear that the Taliban is attempting to eliminate crucial subjects related to modern technology, contemporary sciences, and human rights from educational programs.

Nadim has also noted that the curriculum overhaul has been in the works for two years and represents significant changes, with a clear focus on current societal needs.

Reports from independent sources indicate that, following the Taliban’s restrictions on education—particularly for girls above the sixth grade—several private schools in Kabul and Herat have shifted their curricula to emphasize religious studies. Eight such schools have been identified as making this transition.

Additionally, Abdul Mannan Omari, the acting Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, announced amendments to the labor law, which are also pending ratification. He expressed confidence that these changes would address various issues within the labor sector and enhance worker protections.

Despite ongoing discussions about altering educational curricula and national laws, the Taliban has provided little detailed information on these changes and has restricted independent organizations from monitoring the educational landscape. Since December 2022, women have been barred from attending universities, and girls have been prohibited from secondary education for the past three years, raising further concerns about the future of education in Afghanistan.