Taliban shut 300 Kunduz schools: Striking teachers

AVA- The striking teachers in Kunduz City, the provincial capital, also claimed the Taliban had closed around 300 schools across the province.
Syed Ghulam, a teacher of Shah Rawan School in Dasht-i-Archi district, told media that he had not received his last six months’ salaries.
“We want our salaries reach us through the traditional way because the Taliban are against distribution of teachers salaries through banks, that is the reason they (Taliban) have shut all schools,” he said.
Ahmad Gul, principle of Qalazal High School, also said the government should not distribute teachers’ salaries via bank.
“We have not received our salaries for six months, teachers do not attend classes so schools are closed,” he said.
Syed Asadullah, a schoolteacher from Chahar Dara district of Kunduz, said the government should resolve the salary problem with the Taliban.
“We are ruled by two rival regimes; our area is under Taliban control, the government distributes our salaries through banks something which the Taliban oppose,” he said.
Rustam Ahmadi, Kunduz education deputy director, also told that the Taliban were against salaries to teachers through bank and that was the reason schools were shut.
“The Taliban’s opposition to salaries via bank serves their own interest. There is no problem in areas under the government but the Taliban have closed schools in their areas and insist salaries be distributed by hand,” he said.
Ahmadi said the problem would be resolved through local tribal elders and teachers would receive their salaries soon.
According to the protesting teachers, the Taliban have closed 300 out of all 500 schools in Kunduz province.
There has been no world from the Taliban over the issue.