Female Paktia students seek special university quota

GARDEZ (PAN minister to set up for them a special quota for admissions to universities.

Seventy-five females from the provincial capital, Gardez city, and far-flung districts, including Dandi Pathan, Chamkani, Zarmat, Syed Karam and Ahmad Aba, joined thousands of male students to take an entry test for admission to universities on January 28.

A female participant, Zaytoon, told Pajhwok Afghan News she was able to graduate from a high school despite haunted by insecurity in her area.

“I want my education continued and I did well the entry test paper. Woman education in our province needs proper attention from the government,” she said.

She believed some bad traditions could be prevented with woman education. Female students in remote areas had no facility of coaching to get themselves prepared for the entry test, so girls might not get the required marks.

“Our teacher did not teach us on a regular basis. I solved some of the questions in the test, but am hopeful for good result,” said Jamila, from Chamkani district.  She said if they were not allotted a special quota, they would not be able to get higher education.

Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, an MP from the province, said female lacked education facilities in all eastern provinces. He also supported the idea of allotting a special qouata to female students, saying it would help the girls in remote parts to quench their thirst for higher studies.  “I will try my best to pursue the case with the President and the ministry,” he assured.

According to Kamal Nasir Asuli, the religious, cultural and higher education committee head at the Wolesi Jirga, the committee would take up the issue with the ministry concerned as it was the right of girls living in remote areas to get higher education. He promised efforts at providing admissions to female students from Paktia, Khost and Paktika provinces in national universities.

Nearly 1000 students, qualifying the entry test, would be granted admission in five faculties of Paktia University this year, said Prof. Abdur Rahim Farahi, the university chancellor.

Participation of female students in such a high number in the entrance test showed their spirit for higher studies and the university administration would keep in mind that fact during the enrollment process, he said.

mas/ma

Views: 31