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

Hamidullah, a male teacher in an Islamic school in the Balkh province

All my 9th grade students are struggling under very difficult circumstances. I myself have a salary of 9,000 afghanis (123 USD). This is unsustainable. Life is very bitter for me and my family.

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Abdul, a male teacher for 15 years in a boys’ school in Balkh

I am proud of being a teacher because we have a sacred duty, but we are not considered with respect. I am also very angry that the girls' schools have been closed, as I firmly believe in every girl's right to education.

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Seyed, a male teacher for over 20 years in a secondary boys’ school in Herat

I was happy when I was teaching the upper classes, but I have now been at home for the past two years. I firmly believe that girls should have the right to education and female teachers should be allowed to teach boys.

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All testimonies