Private universities hard hit by regime change

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Afghanistan Private Universities’ Union (APUU) says the number of newly enrolled students has declined by 50 percent.

APUU spokesperson Mohammad Karim Nasari said new admissions had declined by 50 percent as a result of economic problems.

At the 131 private universities functioning nationwide, 217,000 students, including 37 percent females, were being imparted education, he added.

The spokesman continued: “10,000 students dropped out in the wake of the regime change last year. Some of them may have left the country.

“Some did not return to classes due to financial problems. The number of students appearing in the university entry test also fell by 50 percent this time.”

Nasari explained private universities hat cut monthly fees and took some other steps to encourage students. But still, the number of students was decreasing, he complained.

The union had held discussions with some government institutions to resolve their problems, he added.

Mohammad Javid Sahil, head of the Khana-i-Noor University, confirmed a decline in the number of students.

He said during the republic regime his university had 900 students while currently, 400 students were attending the university.

He said due to financial problems he downsized the human resource strength of the university as well.

Sahil asked the government to refer some students to private universities who are unable to study in public universities.

He also asked the government to pay more attention to private universities in order to resolve their problems.

Higher Education Ministry Spokesperson Mawlavi Ahmad Taqi said they held some meetings with the representatives of private universities to resolve their problems.

He said the ministry was trying to increase the capacity of state-run universities with a view to enrolling more students.

nh/mud

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