Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – In a sweeping policy shift that reinforces the Taliban’s conservative Islamic rule, Afghan boys are now required to wear turbans or caps and the traditional shalwar kameez in all public and private schools across the country, according to a directive issued by the Taliban government’s Ministry of Education.
The dress code, officially enforced since the start of the school year in March, reflects the group’s efforts to align everyday life — especially education — with their interpretation of Islamic law. Officials claim the uniform promotes modesty, religious identity, discipline, and equality among students.
“Sharia clothing defines the identity of a Muslim male and female,” the ministry said, calling it a safeguard against “moral degradation.”
Previously associated mostly with religious schools, the attire is now compulsory for all boys. Students under age 15 must wear a light blue shalwar kameez with a cap; older students must wear white, along with a turban. Schoolteachers and principals have also been told to adopt the same dress, replacing casual clothing or Western-style suits.
Girls, who are banned from studying beyond primary school in most cases, already wear long black dresses and headscarves from an early age.
Enforcement of the new uniform policy has been uneven, with some schools in cities like Kabul initially allowing leniency. However, pressure has since mounted. Morality police from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have begun visiting schools, and students without proper attire have been turned away at the gates.
“I saw several of my friends turned away because they didn’t have a turban,” said Qassim, a 17-year-old student in Herat.
In rural areas and the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, the policy has received support from students who view the clothing as representative of Islamic and Afghan identity. “I’m very happy to wear the Prophet’s clothing,” said Mohammad Wali, 17, in Kandahar.
But for many families, the policy is an economic burden. With 85% of Afghans living on less than a dollar a day, affording uniforms — which cost around 1,000 Afghanis ($14) — is a challenge, particularly for households with multiple children.
“People in Afghanistan have no choice,” said a school principal in Kabul. “They obey and cannot complain.”
Officials from the education ministry reportedly visit schools multiple times a week to check for compliance, leaving little room for dissent in a system where even basic school resources remain scarce and many classrooms are held outdoors.
