HERAT, Afghanistan — Teachers in western Herat province say they are leaving public schools amid growing pressure from the Taliban, who have imposed strict appearance rules and cut salaries, several teachers told KabulNow.
Teachers described an atmosphere of constant oversight. Taliban representatives inspect teachers every two weeks, checking whether male teachers have beards, wear traditional hats or turbans, and follow local dress codes.
Esmatullah, a veteran teacher, said he left his job after decades of service because he could not endure the repeated inspections and demands. “The Taliban Vice and Virtue police would measure our beards and introduce new restrictions on our clothing and behavior every 15 days,” he told KabulNow. “I had no other way but to resign.”
The Taliban’s leader recently issued an order reducing the salaries of all government employees, including teachers. The decision has created widespread dissatisfaction, and many teachers say they are trying to find second jobs or leave government work entirely.
For some families, the cuts have been devastating. Sohaila Habibi, a female teacher, said the salary reductions and payment delays left her unable to meet basic expenses.
“When they delayed and cut my salary, I had to borrow to pay my rent,” she said.
Because of rising expenses, she has also returned to sewing to supplement her income. “My salary was reduced, and the landlord increased the rent,” she said. “I was forced, for the rent and family expenses, to start sewing again. I am physically in the classroom, but my mind is busy with sewing work; to finish sooner, deliver to the customer and get money for the living expenses.”
Nek Mohammad, another teacher, said the salary cut forced him to take an additional position at a private school.
Several teachers told KabulNow that they believe these combined pressures are not accidental. They said the Taliban are deliberately weakening the public education system while expanding religious schools, steering students toward instruction aligned with the group’s ideology. While salaries and budgets are being reduced for public school teachers, religious schools have continued to receive support, they said.
The effect has been a growing exodus of teachers from public schools. Teachers said colleagues who once served for decades are now looking for work in private schools or other fields. Some are leaving teaching entirely.
“The situation is making it impossible for many teachers to stay,” one teacher said. “If this continues, only a few experienced teachers will remain in public schools.”
Teachers warned that the loss of experienced staff, combined with the Taliban’s strict control over remaining teachers, will further limit the quality of education. They said the situation has already affected morale in classrooms and placed heavy burdens on those who remain.
Note: All names of teachers in this report have been changed for security reasons.
