Hundreds of Nimroz youth deprived of higher education

ZARANJ (Pajhwok): The absence of a government-run university has deprived a large number of youthof higher educationin northwestern Nimroz province, school graduates complained on Tuesday.

Khalid is one of those who graduated from high school but could not continue higher education.He regretted hundreds of youth in the province failed to get admission to the university due to their poor economic condition.

Under-graduates did not have bright employment prospects in government and non-governmental offices, he noted, explaining employers generally preferred university graduates. It is extremely painful for him.

Zarghona, another school graduate, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “I want to get admission to the teachers’ training centre, because there is other higher education institute in Nimroz.

“My economicstatus doesn’t allow me to travel to other provinces for higher education,” she remarked, saying many girls graduating from school stayed at their homes due to non-availability of job and education opportunities.

Studying at private higher education institutes is more expensive and many students cannot afford it.Abdul Ghaffar, a private higher education institute student, said each semester cost him 24,000 afghanis. He called the fee way too high.

He urged the government to establish state-run universities in Nimroz and thereby help a large number of youthcontinue higher education.

Technical and professional education director, Abdul Hadi Baidar, confirmed most of youths after passing out from school failed to continue higher education due to the absence of government universities.

He said most of school graduates could not travel to other provinces for higher education due to their poor economic condition or security threats on highways.The need for a university in the Nimroz province had already been conveyed to the officials concerned, but lack of budget was a huge problem, Baidar said.

Attiqullah Noorzad, planning manager at the Nimroz education department, said the construction of a government university in the province was expected to begin this solaryear, but it was delayed due to lack of funding.

Currently, 157 schools, a teachers training centre and a higher education institute are functional in Nimroz. Of more than 1,000 students graduating from school every year, less than 400 are enrolled in government universities.

mds/mud

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