Habibullah Agha, Afghanistan’s Education Minister, has stated that in the modern world, protecting the country and religion cannot rely solely on weapons. Speaking at the inauguration of new school buildings in Shawak district, Paktia province, he urged students to pursue modern education, emphasizing that drones, missiles, bombs, and airplanes cannot be developed without scientific knowledge. He stressed that while religious education is vital, science is as important as water and food.

Contradiction in Education Policy

• Recently, Afghanistan’s Higher Education Minister announced the removal of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution from universities, claiming the higher education system has been fully Islamicized.

• This has sparked debate, as the Education Minister promotes science while modern scientific content is being restricted.

New Schools and Challenges

• 18 new school buildings in Paktia were built with Japanese assistance, costing around 196 million Afghanis.

• Despite this, over half of the province’s schools still lack proper buildings, forcing students to study outdoors.

Tribal Elders’ Demands

• Elders have called for professional teachers, quality textbooks, and basic facilities.

• They urged the government to implement the Education Minister’s vision, ensuring students receive proper education.