The promise of the government to social science faculty students who went on hunger strike for complete eight days once again doomed like hundreds of its kind made to Afghan people. On June 26, students once again held demonstration in the front of parliament asking government to put into practice its promises.

Last month, 82 students from social science faculty protested against discrimination and outdated teaching materials in public universities. They specifically accused the Dean of social faculty Mr. Farooq Abdullah and a lecturer Faisal Amin on account of humiliation and discrimination against students of Hazara community. As a result more than half of the protesting students were hospitalized and some were vomiting blood. Their physical condition deteriorated to a level that physicians expressed serious concern over their health condition.

But the government, particularly Ministry of higher education resisted against the move. Lecturers and deans of faculties worried about the prospective of such peaceful civil movement and instigated some students to counter demonstrations. Thus, due to overwhelming pressure from the civil society, after eight days of hunger strike, the government was compelled to take action. Two advisors of President and Obaidullah Abid Minister to Ministry of Higher education appeared on the scene and recited a declaration promising that Faisal Amin will be replaced and Farooq Abdullah will be transferred to another faculty.

More than a month has passed from the promise but still the government hesitates or even presumably kept away its promise to respected students. Both of them are still continuing on their positions. Instead of feeling sorry for sparking such chaos at the beating heart of higher education pose for protesting students that could not replace them.

The very unfortunate thing in countries with tribal culture is this that visible and invisible hands try to divert the straight forward development. The peaceful students put their lives at risk simply for uprooting discrimination and updating of teaching materials. Presently there are around 20,000 students studying in Kabul University but yet none of them has produced any scientifically credible piece. The only reason is they learn how to be silent and sycophant and how blindly they should memorize what teachers dictate them. They are not guided to press the accelerator and invent or put forward new ideas.

It is highly appreciable if the government takes serious steps and improves the quality of education in public universities. If it again evades realizing its promise, then annually thousands of uncompetitive students will be added to unemployed population and nothing will happen.