Officials at private universities in Kabul claim that the number of students attending private universities has dramatically dropped in recent months. They say most students stop attending classes and universities due to economic challenges.
“In 1401, in the spring entrance exam, 57 students participated in the first exam and 17 in the second exam. We have a total of 70 students for the new year. If we compare it with last year, we have lost 90% of our students,” said Sayed Rahim Hashemi, head of a private university.
“The major reasons for the decline in students at public and private universities are as follows: recent migrations, economic problems in the community and the lack of support from domestic and foreign institutions for underprivileged students,” said Mohammad Salem Hamidi, head of a private university.
“We thought that the future of our country would be bright and that we would serve our country, but unfortunately, with the fall of the regime, we were forced to leave our country, and it was the beginning of dropping out of university for me as a student,” said Hasib Satari, a student.
“Many of our classmates have dropped out of university, some of them are facing economic challenges, they are not able to pay the fees, many of them see their future as an unknown and some of them have security problems and they cannot leave their houses,” said Ziba, another student.
However, the Ministry of Higher Education said that the situation in private universities was normal.
“Based on the information, the process of learning at private universities is going on normally. Many of them have attracted a lot of students, and if some universities have been closed, they have had their own problems,” said Khalid Dad Ahmad Taqi, spokesman of the Ministry of Higher Education.
According to the Ministry of Higher Education, there are 140 private universities in the country that teach students in various subjects.
The Ministry of Higher Education on Saturday announced it has allotted three days of the week for female and three days of the week for male students. The students said they are unable to complete eight educational credits with the new schedule.
“We used to study three subjects or credits in one day but now we must study six credits. To study six credits in one day, it needs more time and efforts, which is out of the capacity of a student,” said Mohammad Rameen, a student.
“We should come to the university and study all day long and then rest another day,” said Fahima, a student. Some students said they will face with economic problems by the new timetable.
“The condition is different. A student should work to earn money and study at the same time. As the timetable is now from morning to evening, so it will not allow us to work,” said Mohammad Mansour, a student.
