Students in Kabul have reported that the Taliban prevented them from celebrating Teacher’s Day, an annual event long observed by students to honor their educators. According to students, the celebration was originally planned for Friday, a holiday in Afghanistan, but students decided to mark the occasion on Thursday instead. Taliban, however, intervened and blocked the event.
Several students revealed that the Taliban pressured school principals to prohibit any Teacher’s Day activities. “We chipped in money and made a lot of preparations, but when we arrived at school, we were told there would be no celebration. We were very upset and disappointed,” one student from Kabul told Amu TV.
Teacher’s Day, which falls on 13 Mizan in the Afghan calendar, was previously celebrated during the former government but has since been banned under the Taliban. Students noted that Taliban officials sent both audio messages and official letters to school administrators, enforcing the ban on the celebration.
Teachers, many of whom continue to work under difficult conditions, expressed frustration over the Taliban’s dismissal of their contributions to society. Fariba, a teacher who has taught in public schools for 28 years, said the ban undermines the respect and value traditionally accorded to educators. “Banning Teacher’s Day isn’t just about us—it’s about the students, too. It was a day when they could show some appreciation for the role of teachers and recognize the importance of education in society,” she said.
In an audio recording obtained by Amu TV, a Taliban educational official warned against holding any Teacher’s Day celebrations. The Taliban’s leader, in a decree issued in May and enforced as of July, officially prohibited the holiday, describing it as an “un-Islamic” practice rooted in non-Muslim traditions. The decree also warned of consequences for anyone found celebrating the occasion.
The ban has sparked outrage among some female teachers, who say their profession has been increasingly marginalized since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. “The challenges we face as teachers keep growing, but the Taliban looks down on us,” one teacher remarked.
Despite the obstacles, teachers across Afghanistan continue their work, striving to provide education in a society where their role is being diminished by the current regime.
