Taliban to open schools in Afghanistan

[Kadie]

Taliban to open schools in Afghanistan
By NOOR KHAN, Associated Press Writer
15 minutes ago


KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The Taliban said they will open their own schools in areas of southern Afghanistan under the group's control, an apparent effort to win support among local residents and undermine the Western-backed government's efforts to expand education.

The announcement follows a violent campaign by the fundamentalist Islamic group against state schools in the five years since its ouster by U.S.-led forces. The Taliban destroyed 200 schools and killed 20 teachers last year, and President Hamid Karzai said Sunday that 200,000 children had been driven from the classroom.

The Taliban's announcement that they will open schools "is like putting salt into the wound," said Mohammad Hanif Atmar, Afghanistan's education minister.

Abdul Hai Muthmahien, the purported chief spokesman for the militants, said the group will begin providing Islamic education to students in March in at least six southern provinces, funded by $1 million allotted by the Taliban's ruling council. He said textbooks would be the same ones used during Taliban rule.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070122/ap_on_re_as/afghan_taliban_schools_7

[lligrd]

1. Can't Say That I Am Surprised

We can't change anything in the Middle East (or anywhere else) by force.