Afghanistan has two education systems; the religious and the government. The religious system is taught by Mulas (religious leaders) at masques that includes teaching Quran and provide religious advices. The government system is implemented at schools which is free of charge and is consist of different subjects including religious.
Afghanistan does not only have different system of education, but also has different culture and principle of teaching. In all primary schools, beside the normal teaching material, teachers hold stick to control and behave students. Mostly, students are not allowed to leave the class with out teachers’ permission. If they feel thirsty or feel going to toilet, they have to be seated till the permission is granted or wait for class to over.
Every school gets 15-minutes break to drink, eat, stretch legs and go to the toilet and no one is allowed to leave the school during this time.
Punishment at schools became part of government education system. Students get punished for different reasons. For example, boys are not allowed to leave their hairs grow and if so, then their hairs get cutoff in the class in front of all classmates in an insulting way by the teacher or principle of the school. Not only that, girls are also not allowed to color or perm their hair; wear colorful hair clips, use lipstick and makeup.
Everyday before school starts, three teachers attend school gate and check the bags of all students on arrival. It is to make sure there is no makeup, knife, nail polish, brush, celebrities’ postcards and other stuff which are not study related.
In the class, if students miss the homework or unable to answer questions asked by teachers, the students will be either punished by stick, or asked to stand in front of the class till the teaching session is over. No respect to what so ever is given to students.
Surprisingly, the corruption is not only within government, but is also mixed with education system at schools. Teachers do not mark students based on their talent and papers’ outcome. Instead they consider, if students’ mothers or fathers are their co worker, or if there is a family connection, or if students can provide bribe in form of gift to the teachers . There is no real value for real talent at schools.
Teachers at government schools are mostly 12 grades graduates. Teaching is not their professions, but they are teaching for living. Currently, the low money earners in Afghanistan are the teachers and majority of them are female. Government is trying to upgrade the system of education and the changes are underway with university system. People are in hope to have a proper, efficient and effective system at schools to educate the new generation of Afghanistan.
Let’s hope for the best and hope instead of beating students, teacher can talk to them and instead of cutting students hair which damage their personality in front of their classmate, they can change the rule to give a bit of respect and freedom to students.
