Education International

ATROAfghan Teachers' Rights Observatory

Testimony

Anonymous, ex-teacher, female

Most of my family members are teachers, mother, sister, and brother. With the arrival of the Taliban, we lost our jobs.

Only my brother remains a teacher, whose income is not enough for our family. My father is also unemployed, which means a big financial problem for all the teachers.

Teachers do not have freedom of thought and expression. The Taliban has sent written letters to all schools saying that their ideology should be taught in all schools, which is known to be terror and war.

Some teachers I know have been warned about trying to defend their rights.

More Testimonies

Simin, female, has been teaching for 18 years in a primary girls' school in Herat

I became a member of a teacher union because professional representation is crucial. However, our current circumstances are challenging, and I find myself extremely unhappy.

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Mawlana, a male teacher for 3 years in a secondary boys’ school in Samangan

In recent months, the situation has not been easy. What gives me energy is seeing how important education is for Afghan citizens. I am totally in favour of girls being able to go to school and women being able to teach like men. I am a member of a trade union and I see what they do to defend teachers like me.

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Anonymous, female teacher

As a teacher, I have seen many problems with my own eyes. In the republican system, my life and that of all female teachers was in danger. Teachers were threatened with death and acid was thrown on them.

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All testimonies