KABUL, Afghanistan — A new dress code imposed by the Taliban is forcing some boys to leave school, as students and teachers grapple with the latest in a series of restrictive education policies introduced by the regime since its return to power in 2021.
The Taliban-run Ministry of Education has made it mandatory for all male students and teachers to wear traditional Afghan clothing — perahan tunban (a long tunic and trousers), along with a cap or turban — as the official school uniform. Students in grades 1 through 9 have been asked to wear blue, while those in grades 10 to 12 are required to wear white and cover their heads with turbans.
The decision, formalized in a decree known as the Uniform Charter, has led to both student dropouts and forced expulsions, according to sources and interviews with students conducted by Amu TV. The new regulation is being strictly enforced, with no exceptions for economic hardship or personal discomfort.
“This turban keeps falling off on my way to school, and people laugh at me,” said Matin, an 11th-grade student in Kabul. “I just want to wear our old uniform again so I can study without embarrassment.”
Others point to the financial burden. “Not everyone can afford these clothes,” said Naveed, another student. “Some of my classmates were expelled or quit school because they couldn’t buy them. This isn’t about modesty — it’s about control.”
Sources within the Ministry of Education say the uniform policy is part of a larger effort to bring public education in line with Taliban ideology. A new curriculum is reportedly being drafted to replace secular subjects with Islamic ones, although it has not yet been rolled out. Teachers who oppose the changes are facing mounting pressure to comply.
“They’re not just changing how we dress,” said one teacher who asked to remain anonymous. “They’re trying to remake the entire education system — the content, the values, the purpose.”
Historically, this style of dress was reserved for students at religious seminaries. The Taliban’s decision to impose it nationwide signals a shift away from the secular educational model that existed under the former republic, and toward one that reflects their strict interpretation of Islam.
Rights organizations say the policy will further undermine access to education, particularly for poor families and those who oppose the Taliban’s religious directives. Since taking power, the group has already barred girls from attending secondary school and university, and many see the new dress code as a first step toward tightening restrictions for boys as well.
“Education in Afghanistan is no longer about learning,” said a Kabul-based rights activist. “It’s about obedience.”
Taliban have not commented on the backlash, and state media continue to promote the dress code as a moral and cultural reform. For now, students like Matin say they are trying to endure the changes — but not without frustration.
“We want to learn. That’s all we want,” he said. “But not like this.”
