Taliban Minister says women's education ban caused public disconnect

Kabul: Afghanistan's Taliban-appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai has said the main reason people are distanced from the Taliban is the continued ban on women's education, TOLO News reported. TOLO News is an Afghan news channel broadcasting from Kabul.

The Taliban appointed Deputy Foreign Minister while speaking at a graduation ceremony, stressed the importance of reopening schools for girl students beyond grade 6 and said a society without knowledge is "dark".

The ceremony was held by the Taliban's Ministry of Borders and Tribal Affairs to mark the graduation of students who have studied in educational entities under the ministry.

The Taliban-appointed acting Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, Noorullah Noori, said that the youth living in far areas that lack access to education, have been enrolled in schools. He also stressed that there is no distance between religious and modern education.

Girl students above grade six have been deprived of their education since the Taliban came to power.

Taliban-appointed Acting Minister of Education Habibullah Agha recently criticised the poor quality of education in the country's religious schools, TOLO News reported.