Taliban’s Controversial Degree Issuance: 11,000 Unqualified Students Replace Educators in Afghanistan

According to a direct order from Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, the Higher Education Ministry of this group has, in line with the policy of Talibanizing and Pashtunizing government institutions, issued bachelor’s and master’s degrees to 11,000 individuals from jihadist school students and unskilled Pashtun individuals. This action, which is taking place with the assistance of the governor of Balkh, aims to replace university professors, judges, and employees of important offices with individuals holding extremist views, while girls have been deprived of pursuing education…

Leader of the Taliban’s Order for Pashtunization of Government Institutions

In line with the Taliban’s policies for Talibanizing and Pashtunizing government institutions and purging the structures of non-Pashtun ethnicities, a controversial action has been initiated based on the order of Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, to the acting Minister of Higher Education. This ministry, in cooperation with the governors of northern provinces, especially Mawlawi Muhammad Yusuf Wafa, the governor of Balkh, has begun issuing and distributing diplomas to unskilled, uneducated, and academically unqualified individuals for the Pashtun ethnic group.

These individuals, primarily jihadist school students with extremist views, are being granted bachelor’s and master’s degrees by the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education, and are in the process of replacing university professors, judges, and employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Higher Education, and other key organizations.

Firing of Professors and Infiltration of Unqualified Individuals

In this context, more than 50 university professors have been dismissed from their teaching positions so far. These deserving individuals are being replaced by jihadist school students and unqualified individuals. Many of these new individuals, who hold extremist views, have been recruited and replaced in important ministries.

This action is taking place while the Taliban have prevented girls from continuing their education and have threatened or coerced many individuals in various ways from studying abroad.

Implementation of the Plan in Balkh and Bamiyan and Alarming Statistics

Currently, it is planned that the acting Minister of Higher Education of the Taliban, along with Mawlawi Yusuf Wafa, the governor of Balkh, will implement this action in the provinces of Balkh and Bamiyan.

The goal of this plan is for jihadist school students and certain educated muftis from these schools, who have participated in the wars of the Taliban or Al-Qaeda, to receive bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Then, these individuals will be recruited and employed in university responsibilities and other positions in the mentioned provinces, based on the mentality and duties assigned to them by the Taliban Emirate, replacing the previous individuals and professors.

It is worth mentioning that, according to the announcement of the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education, bachelor’s and master’s degrees have so far been issued to 11,000 individuals from this Pashtun group and jihadist school students.