Girls barred from Kankor examination, universities hopeful for future

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some girls who missed this year’s Kankor examination are hopeful for the future and asked the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) government to allow girls and women to attend schools and universities so they could be included in the next year’s Kankor examination as well.

According to Pajhwok Afghan News report, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) on December 20, 2022 ordered all public and private universities to stop girls’ education until the second order.

This comes that the IEA officials repeatedly said that ban of girls education was temporary and they would be allowed to attend schools and universities when suitable conditions and the required environment is provided.

On Sunday, the result of this year’s Kankor examination was announced on the bases of which Atal Khan from schools graduates and Zainullah from religious schools graduates got first positions each but girls were not present because they were denied appearance in the Kankor examination.

Pajhwok Afghan News interviewed two girls who could not appear in the Kankor examination due to the ban.

Sharifa Hisar, one of these girls, said that she completed high school in 2021 at Prof. Abdul Ahmad Javid High School situated in the Qasaba locality of Kabul City and appeared in the Kankor test in 2022.

She said she was not succeeded to the faculty of her choice and decided to appear in the next year Kankor examination and succeed to the faculty of her choice but due to political change in the country she was unable to materalise her dream.

She said it is distressing for her to see boys going to the universities and schools but girls are banned and they stay home.

Hisar said this year her close realtives appeared in the Kakor examination and passed to their faculty of their choice.

She termed the current situation in the country disappointing but was hopeful for the future.

Hisar said: “I am really hopeful, last year when the universities were closed I was hopeful it may be opened in spring but it wasn’t, I am hopeful that at least in the coming year the universities would be opened.”

She talked about her readiness to participate in the Kankor examination if girls are allowed and said that she studied entrance examination forms, questions and other books at home for three years and is ready to succeed in her desired faculty—sociology.

When asked about her psychological condition, she said: “Honestly, I can tell you that sometimes I get really angry and getting very close to cry.”

In her message to other girls Hisar said: “My message to the girls is that we should use the opportunities we have and study wherever we go if there is an online course, and if we get a book, we should read that book and learn an art.”

Lida Nazhand, other girls who missed Kankor examination, told Pajhwok Afghan News that she was not disappointed and was getting prepared for Kankor examination in the coming years.

She said she was a 11^th class student at the Sherino High School in the Dahni Bagh locality of Kabul City when the IEA government closed girls schools.

She have had her school books and said that she would never get disappointed and would continue preparing for the Kankor examination in the coming years.

When asked about her feelings after this year’s Kankor results were released, she said: “It is obvious that one feels bad that others go to university and achieve their dreams. Unfortunately, we were not able to go to the entrance exam. We missed the dreams we wanted to achieve. I won't miss it and I hope that schools will open again and we will achieve our dreams again.”

She said from the day one she wished to study medicine and her uncle who is writer always encouraged her to study.

“My uncle is writer and book seller, he send me books, he is now in Iran but still send me books and say never sit free and always read books,” she said.

She asked the IEA government to reopen schools and universities and urged girls not to lose hopes and remained optimistic.

This comes that earlier, Dr. Lutfullah Khairkhwa, deputy Higher Education Minister during an exclusive interview told Pajhwok Afghan News the issue suitable environment for girls and women education had been handed over to a committee to resolve it.

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