Taleban Education Ban in Swat

Carina Gibson

12:57 A.M.
Feb. 25, 2009

In the Swat Valley in Pakistan, Islamic militant groups are attacking schools and forcing children out of their homes. The Taleban issued a ban on female education that came into effect recently, as well as bombed several schools in the past week. These militants have paralyzed Swat with a two year long armed insurgency as the Taleban militants continue to impose their brand of Islamic law on the district. The Pakistani army is now moving into the remaining school buildings in order to protect the children in those buildings. Parents are worried that this occupation of militia will only provoke harsher attacks on these schools, therefore putting these children at an even higher risk. The Taleban militants have put the militia on the defensive by attacking check points and camps with suicide bombers. The district head of the education department, Sher Afzal Khan, says “…187 of our schools [have been] bombed out, of which 121 are girls' schools," he also goes on to say that “…nearly 60,000 students have been affected.” At least another eighty six schools are being used by the Taleban as camps, and other schools are located in combat zones where civilians cannot go. Those who can afford to leave will be able to reach some safety, but those who cannot, unfortunately don’t have much of a choice.
These schools are in danger, along with the many children in the educational programs, especially the girls. This ban on education is taking a toll on not only the children’s studies and educational advancement, but also many lives are at risk because of this forced rule of the Taleban.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7855198.stm