Test of Faith: Taliban’s Virtue Ministry Puts School-teachers under Scrutiny

DID Press: Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the Taliban’s caretaker government has begun religious assessments of school and government staff, mandating teachers to participate in faith-based examinations.

According to official directives issued on September 10, 2025, Virtue and Vice ministry has instructed the Ministry of Education to conduct annual religious tests from teachers and government employees to evaluate their knowledge against the standards of Sharia-compliant instruction.

In Panjshir province, two teachers confirmed that they underwent such religious examinations last week, describing the initiative as a sign of Taliban authorities’ mistrust toward educational staff.

Under the official mandate, these exams are scheduled twice annually across government offices to measure both knowledge and commitment to religious principles.

Concurrently, the Taliban have established a new entity called the “Department of Dawah and Guidance” within ministries and independent government bodies. This office is responsible for religious training and monitoring employees’ adherence to Sharia, with its oversight now extended to provincial administrative units.

Analysts say the move reflects a broader Taliban policy to strengthen ideological control over both educational and government personnel, potentially increasing psychological pressure and limiting educational freedoms in schools.

Observers note that this development, alongside the Taliban’s intensified focus on religious and supervisory policies within government offices and schools, signals a clear effort to consolidate ideological hegemony and maintain direct oversight of employees.