Taliban's new education minister says PhD, Master's degrees ‘not valuable’

[Major]

The Taliban regime, which unveiled a caretaker government in Afghanistan on Tuesday, is doing exactly what the people of the country and the world feared. Shortly after being named as Afghanistan's education minister, Taliban leader Sheikh Molvi Noorullah Munir questioned the relevance of higher education.

In a video widely circulated on social media, the minister is heard saying, "No PhD degree, Master's degree is valuable today. You see that the mullahs and Taliban that are in the power, have no PhD, MA or even a high school degree, but are the greatest of all."

Munir is one of the 33 members of the government announced by Taliban on Tuesday. While Mullah Mohammad Hassan has been named as the prime minister, "specially designated global terrorist" Sirajuddin Haqqani - the leader of the feared Haqqani network - has been named the interior minister.

All the top positions in the cabinet were handed to key leaders from the movement and the Haqqani network - the most violent faction of the Taliban known for devastating attacks.

Mullah Yaqoob, the son of the Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, was named the defence minister.

Co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar, who oversaw the signing of the US withdrawal agreement in 2020, was appointed deputy prime minister.

None of the government appointees were women.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/worl...er-s-degree-not-valuable-101631085275474.html

 

[Itachi]

Does Islam recognize the modern theories?

If yes, then above has no basis.

If no, then above is true.

So to the PPer who have studied Islamic scriptures, which one is it?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Not even worth reading past the first line since it refers to the govt as insurgent group. Stopped reading there, checked the source was indiatvnews.com, and just laughed.

 

[sweep_shot]

Not all professions require PhD and Master's anyway. You don't need a Master's for an IT job (not here in Canada at least).

So, he has a point.

 

[sweep_shot]

Not even worth reading past the first line since it refers to the govt as insurgent group. Stopped reading there, checked the source was indiatvnews.com, and just laughed.

Yeah. They are no longer insurgents. They are now a government.

They are the new sheriffs in town.

 

[Major]

Not all professions require PhD and Master's anyway. You don't need a Master's for an IT job (not here in Canada at least).

So, he has a point.

so you are saying people in the govt level should work without highschool degrees?

The govt that is suppose to help work out your prboelms in terms of documents shouldnt have high school education?

 

[sweep_shot]

so you are saying people in the govt level should work without highschool degrees?

The govt that is suppose to help work out your prboelms in terms of documents shouldnt have high school education?

Again, it depends.

Many high school students probably can handle certain government jobs just fine. Many government jobs are mostly paperwork and data entry.

Also, many professions do not require Master's or PhD.

Education has to be practical. It should be about skills and experiences; not credentials.

 

[silentkiller187]

so you are saying people in the govt level should work without highschool degrees?

The govt that is suppose to help work out your prboelms in terms of documents shouldnt have high school education?

Most degrees aren't worth the paper they are written on , especially here in the UK. The current UK government have been to the most prestigious of schools and universities yet are probably the dumbest government on record or one of, i wouldn't look too much into the correlations.

 

[Major]

Again, it depends.

Many high school students probably can handle certain government jobs just fine. Many government jobs are mostly paperwork and data entry.

Also, many professions do not require Master's or PhD.

Education has to be practical. It should be about skills and experiences; not credentials.

So you are saying the policy makers and people who handle govt documents dont need highschool education?

 

[JaDed]

The lengths to which some Pak posters are going to defend Taliban is amusing to say the least.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

A self inflicted brain drain is a sure fire way for Afghanistan to race to the bottom faster than it already it has.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The lengths to which some Pak posters are going to defend Taliban is amusing to say the least.

Name them

 

[OldWarHorse]

That some statement from the 'higher' education minister. Wonder which genius came up with that appointment

 

[Itachi]

Again, it depends.

Many high school students probably can handle certain government jobs just fine. Many government jobs are mostly paperwork and data entry.

Also, many professions do not require Master's or PhD.

Education has to be practical. It should be about skills and experiences; not credentials.

There's a difference between some jobs not requiring special skills THAN telling those people greatest of all. Isn't it?

 

[MenInG]

so you are saying people in the govt level should work without highschool degrees?

The govt that is suppose to help work out your problems in terms of documents shouldnt have high school education?

Bro in the future.

Use a proper source which doesn't mix their hate for Pakistan/Islam with facts.

In the article above there are some facts but so much other nonsense is there that it cannot be taken seriously.

 

[MenInG]

Source has been changed to a better quality one.

 

[sweep_shot]

So you are saying the policy makers and people who handle govt documents dont need highschool education?

No. I did not say that.

I said it depends on the type of job. If it is just paperwork and data entry, high school education should be good enough. Anyone who can read, write, and has a good typing speed should be able to handle those jobs.

I think the emphasize should be on skills rather than credentials.

 

[Lonewarrior]

I am not gonna defend what did he said , but despite what he said, the childerns and women are still going to school and colleges, maybe he tried to explain his own opinion about "uneducated" trying to govren a country ....

our finance minister in Nawaz sharif era, had no degree regarding about finance at all .....

 

[Itachi]

No. I did not say that.

I said it depends on the type of job. If it is just paperwork and data entry, high school education should be good enough. Anyone who can read, write, and has a good typing speed should be able to handle those jobs.

I think the emphasize should be on skills rather than credentials.

How do you measure skills?

 

[sweep_shot]

How do you measure skills?

Tests? Assessments?

 

[silentkiller187]

The lengths to which some Pak posters are going to defend Taliban is amusing to say the least.

I havent seen many tbh, especially in comparison to the amount of Indian posters that defend Modi and indias government

 

[Itachi]

Tests? Assessments?

How you can measure skills between two or more people?

By giving them marks?

 

[sweep_shot]

How you can measure skills between two or more people?

By giving them marks?

That's how it should be?

I mean how hard is paperwork and basic data entry? You don't need PhD for those works.

 

[Justcrazy]

Does Islam recognize the modern theories?

If yes, then above has no basis.

If no, then above is true.

So to the PPer who have studied Islamic scriptures, which one is it?

Your question is ambiguous , you need to mention what you mean by modern theories?

 

[Itachi]

That's how it should be?

I mean how hard is paperwork and basic data entry? You don't need PhD for those works.

then.... how that would be different than traditional exams which measure skills?

 

[Itachi]

Your question is ambiguous , you need to mention what you mean by modern theories?

Any theory that one studies in educational institutions (Arts/science/commerce). It's this tradtional education against which the objection is there if i read correctly.

 

[ARK Rafay]

Not all professions require PhD and Master's anyway. You don't need a Master's for an IT job (not here in Canada at least).

So, he has a point.

It is a point but it is more about their goals and philosophy. Whatever shape of Islam and Shariah they have in their mind it is clear that it is above any worldly elements. Many of them have been to Madarsas for decades (Although it is a different topic on how competent and morally correct their Madarsas are).

 

[ARK Rafay]

So you are saying the policy makers and people who handle govt documents dont need highschool education?

They need some form of Education. Practical Education has to be a big part. Point is a "Highschool Degree" is not compulsory to to read a document as long as you have alternative education.

 

[Tubs]

The lengths to which some Pak posters are going to defend Taliban is amusing to say the least.

For real. It is so uncomfortable.

 

[Major]

That's how it should be?

I mean how hard is paperwork and basic data entry? You don't need PhD for those works.

To hold a ministry you need atleast Bachelors level of education cause you are involved in policy making.

As to regards to paperwork, well basic level of education is needed to make things more rational.

 

[Major]

The lengths to which some Pak posters are going to defend Taliban is amusing to say the least.

very true. Today I learned that we have Pakistanis who think to possess a job where you decide upon the faith and future of the people you dont need to be educated

 

[rockyboy2018]

Such kind of thinking breeds if you are not exposed to anything developed outside your country's borders.
I mean look at the intelligence level of average Afghanis they can not distinguish between a bus and an airplane and consequently falling off from the sky.
None of our business if that's how they would like to run their country good for them.
Thanks God no prophets are alive to see such intelligence levels of their Muslim Ummah.
Muslim contribution is zero to the development of the modern world.

 

[Local.Dada]

Not even worth reading past the first line since it refers to the govt as insurgent group. Stopped reading there, checked the source was indiatvnews.com, and just laughed.

Yeah, it is so surreal to believe that Talibans don’t believe In getting a mainstream PhD or masters degree.

 

[ahmedzee]

so you are saying people in the govt level should work without highschool degrees?

The govt that is suppose to help work out your prboelms in terms of documents shouldnt have high school education?

There are no degrees offered by high school. Lol. I would love to know which high school in the world is giving you degrees.

Govt workers in Canada either are high school graduate or have college diploma, some have degree. I bed it would be rare to find a phd in gov jobs.
Aldo to my knowledge schools are still running there. Are Taliban teaching courses? No! Facilitation of education require character more than education. You can see tonnes of educated characterless jahil in the world. Some even started this Afghan war 20 years ago

 

[topspin]

The lengths to which some Pak posters are going to defend Taliban is amusing to say the least.

People lose their mind when it comes to Israel (and rightly so) but no one bats an eyelid on Saudis, given what they've doing to Yemen, and the Taliban.

If the oppression is done by Muslims = Halal
If the oppression is done by others = Haram

 

[PakLFC]

Islam says seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave even travel as far as China to attain it. These Talib's need to get with the times, if not their few supporters will abandon them as well. They need to understand that the west is the benchmark today when it comes to things like education. Blind hatred of what they see as western or sinful is not the answer to their many problems. By all means keep your Islamic identity but not at the expense off progress or fighting the world over every issue.

 

[Major]

When I look at the Taliban and how they think education is a joke, I feel every Pakistani is indebt to Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. Sir Syed was the one who started the movement for Muslims to get education in English so that we could be able to defeat the imperialist with knowledge and a language that we could communicate and they could understand.

His movement for education did not stop there, he infact tried to rationalize our religion and made efforts in making Islam adapt to the modern worlds needs. But as usual or Mullah brethren took offence to it and even today we have some Pakistanis who think what Sir Syed was doing was Blasphemous. Sir Syed had identified how the Muslim governance system of making a council was flawed and should be adapted towards the modern way of governance.

People here are happy that the Taliban have taken over, the Afghans have taken back what was there; when infact, the country has fallen to the wrong hands. The Taliban's stance against Education shows how much deeper of a problem the Afghans are in.

Taliban believes in two things:
1. Formal education is a western propaganda, theology is education
2. The Shariah law is final

If you see the Taliban govt that has been formed by people who believe in the study of theology and education of theology is all above. For them formal education means nothing. But they need to understand that Afghanistan as a nation would be able to move along with the world if they have a formal education in place. By the words of the education minister, it seems they might even close down formal education and replace it with more religious studies.

Yes the taliban who are good at fighting guerrilla war in the landscape of Afghanistan dont need education to fight. But to run a govt you do need a formal education. You need a society that is educated. In future wars to come, Afghanistan would be needing a proper air defense. They would need to make advancement in science to make weapons and ammunition.

They also believe in running a govt in the form of a council, which again is flawed in todays world. Eventually in the time of 5 years when people are fed up with them than what will they do? There are already protest going on against them.

Afghanistan really needs someone like Sir Syed Ahmad Khan who can help become the country enlighten. The country is back to square one and will keep going back to square one until someone with a philosophical mind errects that could challenge the Taliban with reason. Maybe someone without the Taliban hopefully gets enlighten to take that stand

 

[Yossarian]

In the English system, GCSE's / 'O levels' grades/results determine whether or not you get onto your chosen 'A' level courses. Once you've started your 'A' levels, by and large, your GCSE/'O level' results become meaningless.

Similarly, your 'A' results determine whether or not you get onto your degree course at your preferred university. Once you've started your degree course, your 'A' level results become irrelevant.

Your degree (or Phd or Masters) determines how easy or difficult it is to get your 1st job. Other than in professions like law or the medical professions, where further qualifications are required for more senior posts, in most private industry jobs, from then onwards, what matters is how you perform in your job. Your degree becomes irrelevant. Your pay rises, promotions, moving to new employers, being 'head hunted' etc all depend upon your (recent) performances in your current role.

Just like in team sports, such as football or cricket, where what counts is your recent performances and not how well you performed 2 years ago, employers don't care whether you received a 1st Class Honours from the most prestigious university, or whether you barely passed from some unknown college/university. What matters to your current, or new prospective, employer is your level of experience and your recent performances in your current (or most recent) job(s).

From then on, only time your degree/university matters is at dinner parties and golf club memberships.

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

Does Islam recognize the modern theories?

If yes, then above has no basis.

If no, then above is true.

So to the PPer who have studied Islamic scriptures, which one is it?

Islam was at forefront of advancements in science and math in the early years

 

[Itachi]

Islam was at forefront of advancements in science and math in the early years

what happeend after early years?

 

[rhony]

what happeend after early years?

Islam was progressive when it started. Infact way ahead of it's time with a structure, rights and a very comprehensive way of life. Later on, followers didn't adapt to the changes in technology and didn't embrace industrialization. The Russian occupation of Afg and subsequent strategy to empower Jihadis by Pakistan and USA plunged Islam into a crisis that has only worsened ever since. In 2021, millions of women are wondering if they can study or even work in a country. Imagine that!!

 

[Justcrazy]

Any theory that one studies in educational institutions (Arts/science/commerce). It's this tradtional education against which the objection is there if i read correctly.

Whose objection Islam or Taliban ?

 

[Giannis]

There's a significant and growing minority of people in the west who believe college and the entire education system is a fraud. You don't need a degree to be successful and none of these titles and certificates that were invented at a certain point in history in certain western countries. The Afghan govt is headed by men who have an alternative worldview and want to break free from the current world order, we may disagree with it but you must applaud any critical thinking and opposition to the system. That's the whole idea about being a freethinker and not defining yourself by but whatever value the capitalist system assigns you.

 

[Itachi]

Islam was progressive when it started. Infact way ahead of it's time with a structure, rights and a very comprehensive way of life. Later on, followers didn't adapt to the changes in technology and didn't embrace industrialization. The Russian occupation of Afg and subsequent strategy to empower Jihadis by Pakistan and USA plunged Islam into a crisis that has only worsened ever since. In 2021, millions of women are wondering if they can study or even work in a country. Imagine that!!

But, not adopting to changes could be argued by the basic principle of Islam that, quran doesn't change with time. If it doesn't change, then as time progress, adapting will adulterate the principles rather than bringing anything positive.

 

[Itachi]

Whose objection Islam or Taliban ?

Taliban.

 

[JaDed]

There's a significant and growing minority of people in the west who believe college and the entire education system is a fraud. You don't need a degree to be successful and none of these titles and certificates that were invented at a certain point in history in certain western countries. The Afghan govt is headed by men who have an alternative worldview and want to break free from the current world order, we may disagree with it but you must applaud any critical thinking and opposition to the system. That's the whole idea about being a freethinker and not defining yourself by but whatever value the capitalist system assigns you.

How are the Taliban free thinkers if they bound by chains of religion.

The Americans that don’t value college education but practical experience are not religious, they are truly free thinkers.

Stop defending Taliban as some second coming of Bolsheviks.

 

[Giannis]

How are the Taliban free thinkers if they bound by chains of religion.

The Americans that don’t value college education but practical experience are not religious, they are truly free thinkers.

Stop defending Taliban as some second coming of Bolsheviks.

In the modern world post the the age of enlightenment - being religious is by definition going against the order. We live in am anti-theistic world now. Of course people that follow religious dogma have their own biases and may not be the best definition of "freethinkers" but they are freethinkers wrt to the global world order and mainstream news media.

As for Americans not valuing a college education, you have no idea about the US. These ideas of college being a scam is actually more popular on the right wing than the left wing and the highest number of homeschooled kids in the US belong to conservative Christian families as traditionally in the US it's the Christians that have been most skeptical of public education and even college, some have dedicated Christian colleges here that focus more Christian dogma and their way of life. Being religious or not has no bearing on the increasing popularity of the idea that college is not worth it anymore and that degrees don't define you (or shouldn't), you'll find people that espouse this on various sides of the political and religious spectrum.

 

[kingusama92]

There's a significant and growing minority of people in the west who believe college and the entire education system is a fraud. You don't need a degree to be successful and none of these titles and certificates that were invented at a certain point in history in certain western countries. The Afghan govt is headed by men who have an alternative worldview and want to break free from the current world order, we may disagree with it but you must applaud any critical thinking and opposition to the system. That's the whole idea about being a freethinker and not defining yourself by but whatever value the capitalist system assigns you.

You are looking at it from a job/career perspective.

If your goal is to make money then sure it's not always best to pursue graduate degrees. That's fine but society isn't only built through the pursuit of money. It's also built through the pursuit of knowledge, which then allows for the money-first mindset to thrive.

You take away that knowledge and everything becomes stagnant. Your society will be fine for 5-10 years but then it will lag behind or become a beggar (for the lack of a better word) in front of those who have pursued knowledge. In Afghanistan's case, they're already well behind as it is.

This education minister is looking at it from a societal perspective and thinks he's being wise. However, a lot of modern progress has factually been made by PhDs and their academic pursuit.

For example, 70% of all innovations in the US are created by Masters and PhD holders. A significant amount of these innovations come through years of hardcore research tied to their specialization that would be ridiculed under this education minister's reign.

The world has come a long way in developed nations and we often don't appreciate how much of the foundation has been built by academics.

 

[wajid]

I guess he is trying to highlight that students from another education system can be as or more competent than the mainstream secular education degrees like **,MS and PhD. He even gave the example of Madrassah educated Taliban who defeated university educated government. And honestly mainstream education system in Pakistan is probably one of the most ineffective in the world with very low productivity of her graduates. Also Pakistan officially recognizes equivalence of normal madrassah fazil degree to double MA in Arabic and Islamic studies

 

[wajid]

And especially the degrees of previous Afghan cabinet t were a sick joke. My friend who long worked in Afghan government used to joke that the biggest alumni network of Afghan cabinet in at Preston University Karachi. Those living in Karachi know what a joke it is

 

[wajid]

How are the Taliban free thinkers if they bound by chains of religion.

The Americans that don’t value college education but practical experience are not religious, they are truly free thinkers.

Stop defending Taliban as some second coming of Bolsheviks.

Lolz.... US is very religious. Right from top executives to hourly wages workers. Infact religion in resurgent in Europe as well. And even those who are not religious are culturally deeply ingrained in Juedo-Christian tradition.

 

[Itachi]

I guess he is trying to highlight that students from another education system can be as or more competent than the mainstream secular education degrees like **,MS and PhD. He even gave the example of Madrassah educated Taliban who defeated university educated government. And honestly mainstream education system in Pakistan is probably one of the most ineffective in the world with very low productivity of her graduates. Also Pakistan officially recognizes equivalence of normal madrassah fazil degree to double MA in Arabic and Islamic studies

What the?

Tell me an equivalent degree from non mainstream education which could perform surgery as does an M.S.

 

[RajBan]

Question to posters who are in alignment with Taliban style of governance -

Will you be fine if Taliban proposes similar measures to be implemented in Pakistan or cities where you come from?

Women should not participate in any professional field and remain covered head to toe
Women should not plays any sports
Women should be accompanied by male members if they have to step outside

Remember these rules will be observed for your mother, wife, sister and daughter regardless of their age, upbringing, hobbies and aspirations.

Then comes the other aspect of all social , medical and administrative services will be managed by people who are probably good at handling guns but have no real time administrative acumen or experience, forget the matter of education.

Consider all these factors and be honest to yourself that you seriously will be happy to live under such a regime or be comfortable for people who are subjected to the same. Bottomline how many of you will be fine for Pakistan to be ruled in the same manner , what Afghanistan is going through? Completely understand the political hostilities towards Afghanistan (and India) as nobody is a saint when it comes to geopolitics but do you feel ok with what common Afghan citizens have to go through under Taliban?

Regardless of bitter Indo-Pak relations, personally I feel dreadful if even Taliban gets footprint in Pakistan's social life and subject common Pakistanis (women , men and children) to the same style of life to what they are doing in Afghanistan.

 

[wajid]

What the?

Tell me an equivalent degree from non mainstream education which could perform surgery as does an M.S.

Why should I? Have I made such a claim?

 

[Itachi]

Why should I? Have I made such a claim?

The onus is on the person who explain the perspective.

 

[topspin]

Question to posters who are in alignment with Taliban style of governance -

Will you be fine if Taliban proposes similar measures to be implemented in Pakistan or cities where you come from?

Women should not participate in any professional field and remain covered head to toe
Women should not plays any sports
Women should be accompanied by male members if they have to step outside

Remember these rules will be observed for your mother, wife, sister and daughter regardless of their age, upbringing, hobbies and aspirations.

Then comes the other aspect of all social , medical and administrative services will be managed by people who are probably good at handling guns but have no real time administrative acumen or experience, forget the matter of education.

Consider all these factors and be honest to yourself that you seriously will be happy to live under such a regime or be comfortable for people who are subjected to the same. Bottomline how many of you will be fine for Pakistan to be ruled in the same manner , what Afghanistan is going through? Completely understand the political hostilities towards Afghanistan (and India) as nobody is a saint when it comes to geopolitics but do you feel ok with what common Afghan citizens have to go through under Taliban?

Regardless of bitter Indo-Pak relations, personally I feel dreadful if even Taliban gets footprint in Pakistan's social life and subject common Pakistanis (women , men and children) to the same style of life to what they are doing in Afghanistan.

An excellent thought provoking post for our veiled Taliban supporters/sympathisers.

The extent to which they defend Taliban sums up the mentality of Muslims today who lose their minds when US/Israel kill Muslims (and rightly so) but won't bat an eyelid when Saudis are killing Yemenis and Taliban are killing Afghans.

Taliban have already showing their true colours with backwards mindset and it's only a matter of time before they start making use of their arms on Afghans.

 

[wajid]

Question to posters who are in alignment with Taliban style of governance -

Will you be fine if Taliban proposes similar measures to be implemented in Pakistan or cities where you come from?

Women should not participate in any professional field and remain covered head to toe
Women should not plays any sports
Women should be accompanied by male members if they have to step outside

Remember these rules will be observed for your mother, wife, sister and daughter regardless of their age, upbringing, hobbies and aspirations.

Then comes the other aspect of all social , medical and administrative services will be managed by people who are probably good at handling guns but have no real time administrative acumen or experience, forget the matter of education.

Consider all these factors and be honest to yourself that you seriously will be happy to live under such a regime or be comfortable for people who are subjected to the same. Bottomline how many of you will be fine for Pakistan to be ruled in the same manner , what Afghanistan is going through? Completely understand the political hostilities towards Afghanistan (and India) as nobody is a saint when it comes to geopolitics but do you feel ok with what common Afghan citizens have to go through under Taliban?

Regardless of bitter Indo-Pak relations, personally I feel dreadful if even Taliban gets footprint in Pakistan's social life and subject common Pakistanis (women , men and children) to the same style of life to what they are doing in Afghanistan.

I guess there is a difference between supporting Taliban and being critical of corrupt Afghan government and US. Why some people are equating them?

There are general social currents and trends in past 2 centuries which no one can escape. We already see it in Taliban. Many argue that had US gave aid, scholarships, projects to Afghanistan in 2001 instead of attacking in imperial hubris, Taliban and Afghan society would have changed significantly by now. Just look at Pakistan of early 2000s and now. There is a very profound cultural and social shift. Also we have seen that how significant is the impact of programs like Fulbright and US Aid.

Taliban have lots of problems but people forget what is their appeal for normal Afghans? I guess it is things like no/less corruption, efficient and quick administration of local disputes etc. One American soldier deployed in Nuristan was recounting on Lawfare podcast that how people there in US and government controlled areas used to go to Taliban areas to get their issues like property disputes resolved. And anyone who believes that Taliban does not represent Afghans has no idea about gorilla warfare. Taliban survived a very superior force both in numbers and equipment for 20 years. All military experts agree that it is not possible without local support. We saw what happened to Pak Army in their own country in 1971 when local population turned against them.

 

[topspin]

When you have an education minister making such statements, how can anyone trust the Taliban to govern Afghanistan responsibly?

 

[wajid]

When you have an education minister making such statements, how can anyone trust the Taliban to govern Afghanistan responsibly?

People reading too much into a statement. Ironically sometimes those same people have no qualms about declaring all madrassah educated people as complete illiterates. We have authentic first person reports from Kabul that Taliban are desperately offering jobs to anyone with a degree. So there is no escaping there.

On a lighter note, one can always play a topspin smash. If done right, no one could return it.

 

[OMB]

The Taliban regime, which unveiled a caretaker government in Afghanistan on Tuesday, is doing exactly what the people of the country and the world feared. Shortly after being named as Afghanistan's education minister, Taliban leader Sheikh Molvi Noorullah Munir questioned the relevance of higher education.

In a video widely circulated on social media, the minister is heard saying, "No PhD degree, Master's degree is valuable today. You see that the mullahs and Taliban that are in the power, have no PhD, MA or even a high school degree, but are the greatest of all."

Munir is one of the 33 members of the government announced by Taliban on Tuesday. While Mullah Mohammad Hassan has been named as the prime minister, "specially designated global terrorist" Sirajuddin Haqqani - the leader of the feared Haqqani network - has been named the interior minister.

All the top positions in the cabinet were handed to key leaders from the movement and the Haqqani network - the most violent faction of the Taliban known for devastating attacks.

Mullah Yaqoob, the son of the Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, was named the defence minister.

Co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar, who oversaw the signing of the US withdrawal agreement in 2020, was appointed deputy prime minister.

None of the government appointees were women.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/worl...er-s-degree-not-valuable-101631085275474.html

To all those who keep talking about US imperialism etc..
What stops the new governing power now? Such statements by a minister of education are slowly going to show that the mask is coming off. No change in the mindset

 

[rhony]

There was another statement asking the engineers, Doctors to stay back and build the country. Taliban are stuck. They won't get a dime unless they change their ways. They are being judged by other terrorists if they remain puritans of Islam and Sharia. It's tough to balance the two. Afg doesn't make anything and there are already plans to starve it further by putting checks on the heroin trade. The rest is aid. As they say, Beggars can't be choosers so they will say something to appease other Mullahs and do something else to get the aid. How long will this last? No one knows but will be fun to watch.

 

[rhony]

Lolz.... US is very religious. Right from top executives to hourly wages workers. Infact religion in resurgent in Europe as well. And even those who are not religious are culturally deeply ingrained in Juedo-Christian tradition.

Bible says women need to cover themselves and can't show their knees. Religious can mean believers of god. It can also mean you take 7th century texts literally and chain half the population. West follows the first kind and you are comparing it with people that follow the second.

 

[rhony]

But, not adopting to changes could be argued by the basic principle of Islam that, quran doesn't change with time. If it doesn't change, then as time progress, adapting will adulterate the principles rather than bringing anything positive.

Quran is absolute. It's not Quran that changes. It's the people that need to adapt and they did. There are millions of highly educated Muslims in the world. US universities even have special quotas for Saudi Students for higher education. The issue is with literal following of a religion based on texts.

 

[wajid]

Bible says women need to cover themselves and can't show their knees. Religious can mean believers of god. It can also mean you take 7th century texts literally and chain half the population. West follows the first kind and you are comparing it with people that follow the second.

Fair enough. I agree on this.

 

[Itachi]

Quran is absolute. It's not Quran that changes. It's the people that need to adapt and they did. There are millions of highly educated Muslims in the world. US universities even have special quotas for Saudi Students for higher education. The issue is with literal following of a religion based on texts.

Adapt in what way?

Similar to promoting Islamic banks which is just a facade in order to cover the underlying incompatibilities in the name adaption?

 

[JaDed]

In the modern world post the the age of enlightenment - being religious is by definition going against the order. We live in am anti-theistic world now. Of course people that follow religious dogma have their own biases and may not be the best definition of "freethinkers" but they are freethinkers wrt to the global world order and mainstream news media.

As for Americans not valuing a college education, you have no idea about the US. These ideas of college being a scam is actually more popular on the right wing than the left wing and the highest number of homeschooled kids in the US belong to conservative Christian families as traditionally in the US it's the Christians that have been most skeptical of public education and even college, some have dedicated Christian colleges here that focus more Christian dogma and their way of life. Being religious or not has no bearing on the increasing popularity of the idea that college is not worth it anymore and that degrees don't define you (or shouldn't), you'll find people that espouse this on various sides of the political and religious spectrum.

My manager was home schooled and also his children are getting home schooled.

They do value scientific education , you have it confused as to what Taliban thinks is education and what these home schooled American think is education.

 

[Itachi]

There was another statement asking the engineers, Doctors to stay back and build the country. Taliban are stuck. They won't get a dime unless they change their ways. They are being judged by other terrorists if they remain puritans of Islam and Sharia. It's tough to balance the two. Afg doesn't make anything and there are already plans to starve it further by putting checks on the heroin trade. The rest is aid. As they say, Beggars can't be choosers so they will say something to appease other Mullahs and do something else to get the aid. How long will this last? No one knows but will be fun to watch.

Whats their principle then?

Be it good or bad, any entity is driven by some force. What's this force for Taliban?

 

[wajid]

My manager was home schooled and also his children are getting home schooled.

They do value scientific education , you have it confused as to what Taliban thinks is education and what these home schooled American think is education.

Everyone values scientific education and skills. Taliban need it and infact used it a lot. There were documentaries about how they are harnessing solar power in rural Afghanistan. I guess famous book Clash of Civilizations highlights that how science and technology is desired by everyone and every culture but it comes in a package and you cannot selectively take science and reject modern social values.

Those home schooled in America are because of various reasons. A very respectable red head in my lab was of the views that media is satanic, vulgarity has encroached whole society, physically disciplining children in ok and desirable. Another refused to have TV in home because it might corrupt children. Many cover their phone cameras with tapes. I have not much exposure to Taliban but I guess these are their viewpoints as well

 

[wajid]

Whats their principle then?

Be it good or bad, any entity is driven by some force. What's this force for Taliban?

I guess it is that they want to live with Islamic laws. Anything else can be compromised upon. Also, they have not completely digested nationalism and constitutional democratic type of government. Other than that I suspect that they will compromise on anything. Just show them it is compatible with Islam.

Ironically that was the viewpoint of Afghan Government as well but they were very corrupt and had the stigma of dummies installed by foreigner invaders.

 

[rhony]

Everyone values scientific education and skills. Taliban need it and infact used it a lot. There were documentaries about how they are harnessing solar power in rural Afghanistan. I guess famous book Clash of Civilizations highlights that how science and technology is desired by everyone and every culture but it comes in a package and you cannot selectively take science and reject modern social values.

Those home schooled in America are because of various reasons. A very respectable red head in my lab was of the views that media is satanic, vulgarity has encroached whole society, physically disciplining children in ok and desirable. Another refused to have TV in home because it might corrupt children. Many cover their phone cameras with tapes. I have not much exposure to Taliban but I guess these are their viewpoints as well

It's weird that you compare a very minor insignificant number of Americans to the entirety of Taliban to justify archaic thinking.

 

[wajid]

It's weird that you compare a very minor insignificant number of Americans to the entirety of Taliban to justify archaic thinking.

Correct. But it was not long ago that Europe and US had a very significant population with such views. Many universities did not allow blacks and women as students until 1970s. 10 years ago homosexuality was illegal etc. Even today there are around 10 million people who believe in QAnon. Almost half of military, healthcare workers and even professional athletes have voluntarily declined covid vaccine.


The point is if you let people engage with modern institutions and way of life then there is no need to bomb them into modernity. They will desire it out of their own violation. The process will be gradual. Pakistan is a great example where social norms have significantly changed in last 2 decades.

 

[OMB]

Correct. But it was not long ago that Europe and US had a very significant population with such views. Many universities did not allow blacks and women as students until 1970s. 10 years ago homosexuality was illegal etc. Even today there are around 10 million people who believe in QAnon. Almost half of military, healthcare workers and even professional athletes have voluntarily declined covid vaccine.


The point is if you let people engage with modern institutions and way of life then there is no need to bomb them into modernity. They will desire it out of their own violation. The process will be gradual. Pakistan is a great example where social norms have significantly changed in last 2 decades.

Sadly , the past errors committed by others are being used to justify Talibans actions today.

Atleast the law should be same for all. Why subjugate 50% of your population against their wish?