Hundreds of teachers in the western province of Herat gathered and called on the Islamic Emirate to pay their salaries, as they have not been paid for over four months.  

The teachers demanded the Islamic Emirate facilitate their payments, saying that they have been grappling with severe economic challenges. 

“The teachers didn’t have a good salary to save money for themselves for such days. They were just paid enough to meet their normal daily expenses,” said Latifa Alizai, a teacher.  

Some of the teachers voiced concerns that hunger was threatening their families as they are incapable of providing food and medical care for their children.  

“Many teachers don’t even have money to pay their power bills and their houses lack power,” said Nasir Ahmad Hakimi, a schoolteacher.  

“My daughter has been sick now for a month and I can’t take her to the doctor,” said Saadat Atif, a teacher.  

Based on initial findings, at least 18,000 teachers--including 10,000 women--have not received their salaries for the past four months.  

“All teachers and civilian employees have not been paid for the past four months,” said Mohammad Sabir Mashal, head of the teacher’s association.

“They earn money for living via selling home appliances and now they don’t have anything to sell,” he said.

The head of the provincial education, Shuhabuddin Saqib, said that one month's salary would be paid to the teachers in the coming days.  

“The Islamic Emirate pledged to pay the salary for (Assad-month) and the rest of the salaies would also be paid after that,” he said.  

The officials said that dozens of teachers have recently left the country because of various challenges.