Former deputy education minister Teo Nie Ching today urged Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and Malaysia’s Special Envoy to the Middle East Abdul Hadi Awang to pressure the Taliban interim government in Afghanistan over the latter’s decision to close girls’ high schools.
In a statement, the DAP Kulai MP said the Taliban’s action effectively cripple the education and future of girls in Afghanistan.
“We are disheartened to learn that the Taliban administration in Afghanistan has announced that girls’ high schools will be closed, hours after they reopened for the first time in nearly seven months.
“The backtracking by the Taliban means female students above the sixth grade will not be able to attend school.
“The schools for girls would be closed until a plan is drawn up in accordance with Islamic law and Afghan culture,” she added.
According to Teo, the Taliban had already damaged the lives of girls and women in Afghanistan when they banned female education and most female employment during the years it ruled the country from 1996 to 2001.
She pointed out Hadi’s meeting last month with Muhammad Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan government representative to the United Nations, where Malaysia promised to aid Afghanistan including in redeveloping the country.
“Saifuddin and Hadi must take a firm stand on girls’ education and urge the Taliban government to let the girls return to school.
“If they turn a blind eye to the plight of girls in Afghanistan, they are also effectively sending a message about girls and women's education in Malaysia,” Teo said.
Yesterday, Saifuddin told a press conference that Malaysia and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are monitoring the situation in Afghanistan with concern, and urged the Taliban to show its seriousness in developing education in the country and provide equal access to education for female students. - Mkini
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