Taliban’s Mandatory Uniform Policy Disrupts Education in Afghanistan

The Taliban’s new school uniform mandate is forcing boys out of classrooms, exacerbating Afghanistan’s education crisis, Amu TV reported.

The policy requires male students and teachers to wear traditional perahan tunban (long tunic and trousers) with turbans or caps, strictly enforced without exceptions for financial hardship.

Students in grades 1–9 must wear blue, while grades 10–12 are required to wear white with head coverings. Reports indicate dropouts and expulsions due to unaffordable clothing or social stigma. The policy aligns with the Taliban’s broader effort to reshape education under its ideology, including plans to replace secular subjects with Islamic teachings.

Since 2021, the Taliban has barred girls from secondary and higher education. Rights groups warn the uniform rule may foreshadow stricter controls for boys. Historically, such attire was limited to religious seminaries; its nationwide imposition signals a shift toward Taliban-centric schooling.

State media frames the policy as cultural reform, but critics argue it prioritizes control over learning. The Taliban has not addressed growing backlash.