The Taliban’s Directorate of Education in Kandahar Province has issued an order prohibiting the use of smartphones by both teachers and students in all schools across the region, according to sources familiar with the directive.
The ban is based on a direct order from Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and is to be enforced until further notice, sources said. Violators will face legal consequences, according to the statement, which was shared with school administrators and teaching staff earlier this week.
A principal at a public high school in Kandahar said the ban would further isolate educators from modern teaching tools. “In many countries, schools use the internet to connect with educational institutions and enhance the quality of instruction,” he said. “Here, even basic technological tools are being outlawed.”
Some students also criticized the decision, arguing that instead of restricting access to smartphones, the Taliban should focus on improving the overall quality of education. “Banning phones doesn’t solve anything,” one student said. “We need better teachers and more resources, not more rules.”
The announcement comes amid broader concerns over the state of education in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. While the number of religious seminaries in Kandahar has reportedly surged to over 2,000 since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the quality and availability of general education has significantly declined, according to educators and civil society groups.
The ban on smartphones is the latest in a series of restrictions that critics say are further isolating Afghanistan’s youth from global learning and communication tools, while entrenching conservative religious control over the country’s education system.
