Education International

ATROAfghan Teachers' Rights Observatory

Testimony

Anonymous, female, university professor

I currently live in Kabul.

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

In the field of education women are facing serious problems. I would like to address one of the main problems that I am currently witnessing, which is the problem of physical and psychological insecurity for female teachers and students.

Professors who want to continue their work cannot accept this risk - neither for themselves nor their families.

There are still professors who continue to teach in the current bad situation and serious problems plague them. Among them are the lack of livelihood and the lack of security from the Taliban government. So far, the Taliban government does not have a serious plan to solve the problems of teaching and educating women; they also cannot create a safe environment.

A teacher who leaves home every day to teach not only has to deal with her own fears and feelings of insecurity, but also must deal with her family’s fears and anxieties every day.

So, here’s the problem.

Can female teachers create a safe environment for their students with this fear and insecurity?

Can students learn with a good quality of education with this sense of insecurity transmitted from their teachers?

In my opinion, if this problem is not taken seriously by the Taliban government, it will cause a huge disaster in the field of teaching and educating women and girls in Afghanistan.

More Testimonies

Freba, a female teacher in a girls’ school in Balkh

Over the last two years, women in our country have encountered unprecedented restrictions, revealing a stark disregard for our humanity. Through our union we call for improved basic pay, professional autonomy, and enhanced social security.

Read more Read more

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.

Read more Read more

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.

Read more Read more
All testimonies