Students at Khorasan High School in Maimana wearing white shirts and long skirts.
According to a new Taliban government bill, male students and teachers must wear shirts and long skirts and cover their heads with hats and long skirts. Students at Khorasan High School in Maimana have been following the Taliban’s prescribed uniforms, which were also forced on school students during the Taliban’s first term. The Taliban Ministry of Education said the bill aims to create order, strengthen the spirit of education, reduce the gap between rich and poor students, and promote the culture of Islamic dress. The bill also states that private schools can set a specific color for their uniforms, but they must follow general guidelines, and the Taliban’s Monitoring and Evaluation Department is responsible for implementing this regulation. The bill states that if someone disobeys this order, they will first be advised, and if they repeat it, they will be asked to take a pledge in the presence of their families. A number of education rights activists have called the bill a waste of time and have stressed that instead of such decisions, the Taliban should focus on improving the quality of education, providing textbooks and teaching materials, paying teachers, and reopening girls’ schools. Before the Taliban rule, the uniform for students in government schools below grade nine consisted of black pants and a blue striped shirt, and in high schools, a white shirt.
