Education International

ATROAfghan Teachers' Rights Observatory

Testimony

Anonymous

Although the Taliban’s education minister had promised that Afghan teachers’ salaries would increase, there are many problems. The Taliban’s policy of not allowing male teachers to teach girls and female teachers to teach boys has made things worse. Many people, both men and women will, and have lost their jobs. The same problem has plagued some teachers with mental illness that the world needs to pay attention to. The word ‘teacher’ is bad for some people, and they do not want anyone to associate the name ‘teacher’ with them. Although the status of a teacher in Islam is great, the fact that a teacher always faces many economic problems in society does not make anyone want to become a teacher.

More Testimonies

Anonymous, female, university professor

Before the Taliban came to power, I was teaching in a school. Two months after they came to power, I could no longer teach.

Shahira, a female teacher for 3 years in a secondary school in Balkh

Teachers should have the right to join a professional association or education union and the union should have a legal right to negotiate on behalf of teachers on all professional matters, on professional autonomy and freedom.

Hasina, a female teacher in a boys’ school in the Badakhashan province

Female teachers are treated as if we were toys or mere pawns. One day, we are asked to sign, and the next day, we are told not to come to school. The frustration witnessed through the eyes of our students is beyond words, filled with sadness and resentment. This has been our reality for a year.