UNICEF Concerned Over Reports of Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan's Education Sector
The UNICEF has expressed concern over reports that the Taliban is pushing out international organizations from Afghanistan's education sector and ordering them to hand over their activities to local non-governmental groups.
The Education Ministry has not yet verified the reports, but aid agency officials say they are aware of the message and are taking it seriously.
UNICEF is seeking further information from the Education Ministry and is meeting with them to discuss the reported directive, which could result in over 500,000 children, including over 300,000 girls, losing out on quality learning opportunities within a month.
The Taliban has previously banned female staff from working at the UN and NGOs, and has ordered the immediate suspension of all foreign-led education activities in some provinces.
Aid sources say that only ministry-approved Afghan NGOs that agree to ministry conditions can take on education work, affecting even Islamic international organizations.