 While in Mazar-e-Sharif, Zahir Howida entered the first grade at the Sultan Ghiassuddin Elementary school in 1953.The same year Zahir's father died at the age of 33 leaving behind Zahir, his brother Kabir (who would later become a piano player) and widowed mother.The family moved to Kabul, where Zahir attended 2nd grade at the Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan elementary school.