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

Hakimi, a female teacher for 17 years in Kabul

One of the reasons why teachers are dissatisfied is the closure of schools for girls, because we know that half of the society is made up of women. I deplore that the Afghan society does not respect teachers

Shakila, a female teacher for over 15 years in a girls’ school in the Balkh province

I have been very unhappy for the last year due to the unsafe situation. Unfortunately, my daughters are currently not allowed to attend school, which badly impacts their morale.

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.