Afghanistan’s education system has undergone significant changes since the Taliban returned to power five years ago on August 15, 2021, affecting both girls and boys, though in different ways. While the restrictions imposed on girls—including barring them from secondary schools—have received substantial international attention, interviews with male students across multiple Afghan cities reveal a parallel crisis in boys’ education that has received less visibility.
According to students and educators interviewed by NPR, the curriculum in schools for boys has shifted dramatically toward religious instruction at the expense of secular subjects. English, science, biology and mathematics now receive considerably less attention than previously, with teachers expected to incorporate Quranic verses and religious teachings across all subjects rather than confining them to Islamic studies classes. Additionally, students report stricter enforcement of appearance codes, with male teachers required to wear turbans and traditional clothing and students expected to conform to similar standards.
The expansion of religious education centers has been substantial under Taliban administration. The ministry of education reports overseeing approximately 22,972 religious education institutions, compared to roughly 5,000 registered under the previous government, though the Afghanistan Human Rights Center notes that only 316 of these were newly constructed. During the same period, just 269 new modern schools were established. Many boys have begun dropping out of school, partly due to economic pressures as restrictions on women’s employment shift financial responsibilities to male family members.
Educators and observers note that the impact on boys extends beyond curriculum changes. Younger generations who have no memory of pre-2021 Afghanistan are growing up in an environment where girls’ absence from classrooms and women’s exclusion from public life have become normalized. Educators express concern that this shift in social norms may have long-term consequences for Afghan society as these boys mature into men who will hold decision-making positions.
The atmosphere within classrooms has also transformed, with students reporting increased reluctance to ask questions or express opinions on sensitive topics. Where cautious self-censorship existed previously, fear now predominates, limiting open discussion and critical thinking in educational settings across the country.
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