Over 19,000 high school graduates participated in the university entrance exam Kankor nationwide on Friday. According to Higher Education Ministry, about 8,000 of them will be accepted for enrollment in state universities across the country. The number increases each year. This year, over 22,000 students applied for evening courses prior to the exam and only 19,000 were eligible to take Kankor. Of all the eligible students, less than half would be enrolled. The rest will have to go to private institutes or wait for next year. There are few standard private institutions, but most of the students are from poor family backgrounds and cannot afford.

Each year controversies emerge after exam results are announced, with allegations of corruption, cheating and favoritism. Higher Education Minister has ensured transparency and merit; however there were reports of allegations of cheating on Friday.

Only 30 percent of participating students make it to the public institutes of higher education annually. The Kankor is a very old method, which Afghan students from all across the country must take part to be eligible to join any public university. The Ministry of Higher Education conducts the test in Kabul and provincial centers every year at the end of the school terms. After 12th grade at school, all students who intend to continue education are needed to take Kankor. The test is prepared with contents from all science and arts subjects taught at school. Based on exam marks, the Ministry recommends successful candidates to particular universities.

But the worst of all is that the Ministry of Higher Education chooses who is eligible for a particular field of study or major. Students choose four fields of major in order of priority and their Kankor marks determines which major he/she is eligible to apply for.

One major reason for thousands of school graduates who are unable to make it to university is the tough and flawed system of Kankor entry-test. Given the few number of universities across the country, majority of students remain deprived of their right to continue higher education. They are compelled to look for low-paying jobs due to lack of professional skills. It has its huge psychological and social impacts.

The Government needs to completely abolish this system and replace it with separation of major fields of studies from 10th grade at high school. Colleges should be established for 11th and 12th grade, which aside from separating majors should also serve as preparing students for university standard.