KABUL, 16 March, 2021 (TON): On Monday, Afghan’s Educational Ministry disapproved of the ban on age 12 and above schoolgirls singing in public.

Najiba Aryan, a ministry spokesperson said, “The letter issued recently by the education department of Kabul city does not reflect the stance and official policy of the Education Ministry.”

She added, “The Education Ministry is assessing the issue, will share its findings and, if need be, will also take disciplinary action.”

A letter leaked from Ahmad Zamir Kawara, Kabul’s director of education, asking “all public, private and supplementary schools to ban schoolgirls 12 and older from performing in music choirs in any ceremony and public programs” was disclosed to the public on 10 March.

The letter further warned the headmasters or principals of the schools to be punished if schools did not follow the order. It stated that teenage schoolgirls could only perform in choirs for female audiences and could not be trained by male tutors.

The move was seen by many as part of Kabul’s campaign to boost its religious credentials with the Taliban ahead of crucial talks on the future of Afghanistan. However, the previous decision also evoked harsh criticism.