RASC News Agency: The Taliban has officially mandated traditional attire comprising a long tunic and trousers (Pirhan-Tunban), paired with a turban (Lungi) or a white cap as the compulsory uniform for male students and teachers in schools across Afghanistan. According to the decree, endorsed by Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, all students must adhere to the newly prescribed dress code. The directive outlines: Students from grades 1 to 9 are required to wear light blue tunics and trousers, accompanied by a white turban or cap. Students from grades 10 to 12 must wear white tunics and trousers, also complemented by a white turban.
The decree, structured into four chapters and consisting of nine articles, explicitly states that the tunic must extend below the knees. However, private schools retain the discretion to determine uniform colors. The Taliban has also declared that this dress code will be uniformly enforced across all provinces, including Kabul, with strict monitoring by its oversight and evaluation body. The decision has sparked widespread concern among Afghanistani citizens, with many interpreting it as a regression to the Taliban’s previous era of stringent control over education. Critics argue that such rigid policies risk undermining students’ enthusiasm and the overall academic environment.
Additionally, many observers contend that the Taliban aims to blur the distinction between modern educational institutions and traditional religious madrassas, effectively assimilating both under an ultra-conservative framework. Others have condemned these changes both in curriculum and dress code as an outright assault on progressive education and a deliberate rejection of contemporary academic values.
