The Ministry of Education says all schools have been reopened in Kunduz province, an insecure region in the north, with the help of local officials and tribal elders.

Head of the publication department of the ministry, Kabir Haqmal, said branches of banks have also been opened in Kunduz districts in order for teachers to collect their salaries.

According to the ministry, at least 300 schools, out of 500, closed in Kunduz in recent months.

“With efforts made by provincial offices, education ministry officials, religious scholars and tribal elders, the schools were reopened,” Haqmal said.

However, the Taliban said in a statement that all schools have reopened in Kunduz with their help.

“Government has given them (Taliban) privileges in some parts; given them privileges this time too but let the schools be reopened in all districts of the country,” said Hamida Osman, member of Mehwar-e-Mardum Afghanistan said.

This comes after statistics released by the Ministry of Education on April 18 showed that over 1,000 schools, out of 17,500, in the country, are closed for various reasons including insecurity. 

Most of the schools, the ministry said, are located in insecure provinces including Kunduz, Helmand and Kandahar.

In Bamiyan however, only three out of 500 schools are closed.