Taleban bans teaching of English

By PATRICK COCKBURN

JABAL SARAJ - The Taleban has forbidden the teaching of English in Afghanistan in retaliation for the United States and British air strikes and ordered all English language schools closed.

It says that those who continue to teach English will be punished.

Despite the Taleban's suspicion of educational establishments in general there is a keen appetite to learn English, even in small villages, among students who believe knowledge of the language is necessary for emigration. Small private schools have flourished.

Computer skills are taught in English but it is not clear if schools teaching them will also have to close.

The Taleban's action against English is in keeping with its tradition of banning cultural phenomenon of which it disapproves.

When it captured Kabul in 1996 it immediately prohibited television, video, satellite television and music.

Not content with this the Taleban then banned all games, including football and even kite flying - a favourite pastime in Afghanistan where it is often very windy.

The ban on English was reported by Radio Solh (Radio Peace). The Taleban may be unable to enforce the new decree because of the breakdown of communications with the destruction of Radio Shariat, the main state radio station in Kabul.

-

INDEPENDENT

Map: Opposing forces in the war against terror

Afghanistan facts and links