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| Africa Horn |
| Somali rebels ban English & science lessons |
| 2010-03-06 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Somalia's al-Shabaab rebels have banned English and science studies in schools in the southern Afmadow town after the education centers there ignored thegroup's call for fighters, residents and teachers say. Residents of the town near the border with Kenya said three schools had been given one month to comply with the order by Shabaab rebels and switch the curriculum to accommodate Arabic and Islamic studies. "They asked us to contribute students to their militia so that they can fight for them, but we rejected their proposal," said one teacher who wanted to remain anonymous. Shabaab, which Washington says is al-Qaeda's proxy in the failed Horn of Africa state, wants to topple Somalia's U.N.-backed government and impose its own strict version of Shariah, Islamic law. The heavily armed group controls much of the south and parts of the capital Mogadishu, and courts run by its clerics have ordered executions, floggings and amputations. It has also banned movies, dancing at wedding ceremonies and playing or watching soccer in the areas under its control. Elders said the Shabaab militia shut down Waamo, Dhoobaale and Osman Mohamud schools briefly on Sunday, before slapping the ban on English, which they called a "spy language." Language of spies "The Islamic administration closed education centers and ordered them to stop teaching English which they said is a western language," Ali Mowlid Mohamud, clan elder in Afmadow, told Reuters by phone. "They told schools, 'We know everyone who is going to be a spy for western governments learns this language.'" Schools reopened on Tuesday after elders and schools accepted Shabaab's decree. The order also forced 23 instructors that did not have an Arabic education background, out of their jobs. Safiya Ali, a mother at one of the affected schools, said she sent her children to the Koranic schools earlier in their life so they would later pursue some western education to enable them to join higher education institutions elsewhere. "We had already taught our children Islamic principles and religion. I don't know how the new curriculum will fit the education needs of our children," she told Reuters. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #7 Gigs for BBC International. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-03-06 20:56 |
| #6 Islamic and ignorant the way Allah and Mo wanted it. Very holy |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-03-06 20:36 |
| #5 So the kids will grow up Islamic and ignorant. But I repeat myself. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2010-03-06 20:06 |
| #4 Yeah, Rambler - what was I thinking? We all know learning "kill the infidel" in Arabic (rather than English or one's native language) make it so much more authentic. ;-p |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2010-03-06 20:02 |
| #3 Barbara, they need to learn to read the Koran in Arabic, which will tell them to kill the infidel. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2010-03-06 17:35 |
| #2 "I don't know how the new curriculum will fit the education needs of our children" Silly woman - sounds like she thinks their children might need to actually learn something useful.... Whassa matta - what more could they possibly need to learn than "kill the infidel"? |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2010-03-06 12:17 |
| #1 ION SOMALIA, TOPIX > HIZBUL OFFCIAL ACCUSES COLLEAGUES OF WEAKENING ISLAMISTS. HIZBUL Big Sheikey accuses fellow comrade Big Sheikeys of supporting FOREIGN-BACKED AGENDAS AS AGZ GROUP + ISLAMIST MOVEMENT. * SAME > NIGERIA: CLO CONDEMNS AL QAEDA MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO NIGERIAN MILITANTS | AL QAEDA'S STRATEGY IS TO CREATE AND EXPLOIT EXPANDING ZONES OF SOCIAL DISINTEGRATION IN COUNTRIES, REGIONS WID WEAK GOVTS, ECONOMNIES. As opposed to head-on full-scale mil confrontation agz US-Allies which AL QAEDA + ALIGNED KNOWS IT WILL LOSE. IOW, COLD WAR SOVIET "HITTING/STRIKING WHERE THE US-NATO ARE NOT" + "HUGGING THE WAIST/BELT" TACTICS. * SAME > WEST AFRICA: LAND DISPUTE RISING OVER GHANA'S OIL FIELDS [Ghana v. Ivory Coast]; + NOGERIA:NIGERIAN MILITANTS RESUME ATTACKS, ORDER INTERNATIONAL OIL COMPANIES [IOC's] TO LEAVE. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-03-06 00:41 |