Taliban higher education minister Neda Mohammad Nadim said Tuesday that a new curriculum for universities has been developed and is currently awaiting approval from the Taliban’s council of ministers.
Speaking at the “National Labor Conference” on Tuesday, Nadim emphasized that the previous curriculum has been replaced to better align with market demands.
“The subjects that were part of the previous government have been removed, and a new curriculum has been designed to meet the needs of society,” Nadim stated.
This announcement has raised serious concerns among human rights organizations. There have been reports that the Taliban are attempting to eliminate subjects related to modern technology, contemporary sciences, and human rights from educational programs.
“We have worked on this curriculum for two years. It has now been sent to the Council of Ministers for approval. The changes are significant, with past subjects removed and a focus on the current needs of society,” he said.
Earlier reports by independent sources indicated that, following the Taliban’s restrictions on the country’s educational system, especially for girls above the sixth grade, some private schools in Kabul and Herat have converted their curricula to religious studies. Eight such schools were identified by these sources.
During the conference, Abdul Mannan Omari, the acting Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, also mentioned that the labor law has been amended and is awaiting ratification. “The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has introduced necessary amendments to the labor law based on current needs. This law is now in the final stage of approval. I am confident that its implementation will resolve many issues in the labor sector and protect workers’ rights,” Omari said.
For the past three years, the Taliban have consistently discussed altering educational curricula and other national laws. However, they have not provided detailed information about these changes, nor have they allowed independent organizations unrestricted access to monitor these processes.
Taliban has barred women from attending universities since December 2022. It has also banned girls from attending secondary schools for the past three years.
