Monograph writing a toilsome exercise for students

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some university graduates complain of having inadequate instructions from their mentors and a shortage of time for monograph writing.

Monograph is a basic part of the four-year university studies. It is prepared on a specific subject and has to be defended before a graduate is issued with a degree.

This Pajhwok reporter held interviews with some students of public and private universities on issues pertaining to their monograph preparation and defending it.

Benafsha Danish, a graduate from the Kabul University’s Literature Faculty, said: “We did not receive proper directions from our teachers on how to write monographs.”

She said: “We should have written our monographs much earlier. The first problem we faced was lack of knowledge on how to write a monograph because we did not study the Research Methodology subject.”

She said most of teachers had gone abroad and a large number of students writing monographs were forced to refer to one teacher, who was unable to provide specific instructions to all students.

She asked her mentor/teacher to provide them proper directions on writing monographs. At the end, their monographs were rejected, she observed.  She also sough enough time for monograph writing.

Ghazal, a journalism graduate from Kabul University, said: “This year, I completed my studies. I’m still facing multiple problems preparing my monograph”

It is so difficult when it comes to the selection of topic, mentor and data collection.

She grumbled the time given for monograph preparation was limited. She demanded more time for students for the purpose.

Tuba Samadi, a graduate from the Economics Faculty, said her monograph was often rejected by teachers.

“The topic selection was very confusing. Even after I selected the topic, my monograph was rejected three times,” the student added.

“Finally after a lot of efforts, I prepared my monograph and it was accepted. Sources are limited and mentors are not providing us proper direction,” she continued.

Hayatullah Habil, a graduate of the Institute of Information Technology, purchased a single piece monograph for 5,000 afs.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News: “My mentor made it very difficult for me with regard to sources and other issues. Initially, I wanted to make it myself. But when it became difficult, I purchased an already prepared copy.”

Omaid Ahmadi, a graduate from the Journalism Faculty of Kabul University, made a similar complaint, saying the process of preparing a monograph was very tough.

Khalil Rahman Azrami, a journalism teacher at the Kabul University, said there were guidelines available for monograph writing that made the work of students easy.

“Kabul University’s journalism teachers offered directions to students on the basis of principle in vogue and guidelines,” he remarked.

According to Arzami, the only reason why students are complaining is a decline in the number of university teacher as most of them have fled to foreign counties.

Zainullah Sadiqi, a teacher of journalism at Kabul University, said maybe some issues existed in this regard and some teachers might not be cooperating.

“At the Economics Faculty, I could tell you that we finished our monograph viva last week. Students successfully defended their monographs.”

This Pajhwok reporter tried repeatedly to get the views of higher education officials, but failed.

nh/mud