Some students who participated in annual nationwide entrance exam (Kankour) complained about the way it was held. Cold weather, insufficient time and lack of exam papers in Pashtu language were the main problems they pointed out. Seemingly, the officials of Ministry of Higher Education made wrong calculation in terms of Pashtu and Dari languages speaking students. Thus, some Pashtu speaking students who did not have knowledge of Dari language walked out of the exam hall in protest. Later on, exam observers accepted to give their exams separately.

Kankour is a vital exam across the country. It is held annually after students go for winter holidays which lasts about three months. Thus, when the exam is held, the weather becomes pretty cold in various provinces of the country. Due to large number of participants, exam is mostly held in open air when the temperature fluctuates below zero Celsius. Students who take the exam say that sometimes they are unable to write because of cold weather.

Secondly, based on the rule of Ministry of Higher Education, each student has the right to solve within 2 hours and 40 minutes. But students who took exam in Ghazni province complained that they had only two hours to write due to lack of electricity. Reportedly, the exam was about to be held before noon, but actually the exam papers were distributed at 3:00 pm. After two hours, the weather became dark enough to disturb students writing their exam.

But one of the key problems is transparency of the exam. Talking to students, I found out that some students were able to get the help of other students sitting around or even in front the exam controller. Even some students could use their cell phones and contacted people outside to solve the questions. While exam observers monitored strictly and warned for any suspecting move.

No doubt, such circumstances prove to be unjust for the students who really work hard. Some talented students, who try hard during their schools, score far less than their friends who are no match to them. For such category of students remaining behind doors of public university is so hard that make them decide to farewell with education once and for all. I know students myself who were first position holders during their entire years of school, but scored far less than those who used to get backlogs time and again.

Definitely students who work hard and always score good marks in their schools do not expect such a blunt failure. Based on reports released in some local newspapers, one of the students in Jaghori District, Ghazni Province, who indeed was famous in the school due to her talent and hard work failed twice in Kankour. One day when her family returned home after banquet found her body as she had hanged herself and left a good bye letter. She wrote that life has become intolerable because she failed to continue her higher education in a public university.

One of the most important things is this that private universities still have not broad acceptance. Some of the Afghan family indeed can pay for their children to follow their education in a private educational institution but they avoid. Despite many understand that capacity of public universities are low. They do not provide quality education. But still public educational institutions enjoy high profile among Afghans. Talking to part of people, they brag about their children who follow their higher education in public universities. While it is not similar to those who study in private ones. Kankour holds deep reverence for Afghan families, because it is considered like a litmus among those who study and those who do not.

There can be reasons behind, which need to be explained. But generally, from centuries back, Afghan government provided free education to students. Students who pursue their higher education not only remitted of fee payment but also receive small amount as monthly stipend or get accommodation in public hostel without charge. No doubt, such economic benefits still kept universities as the main target of Afghan students. During recent years, the government also paid importance to girls’ education. Hence, girls who succeed in Kankour will travel other provinces, particularly, the capital Kabul, to pursue education. Afghan families still maintain trust that their girls will face no major problem once they settle down in a public hostel. Girls also feel safe when they leave in a group in a hostel.

While such private universities have no such benefits. Girls who want to study in private university, for instance, in Kabul whose birth place is Kandahar, she rents a room. First due to high population flow to cities, finding residential house is difficult and also expansive. Secondly, without bringing a family member, it is really hard for girls to leave alone with their friends in a lonely house. They will be teased and harassed due to patriarchal system. The dominant mentality is this that female should be accompanied by a male which is of course not possible and not necessary. Based on such a mentality, girls who leave their homes are far vulnerable and exposed to street stalking.

Secondly, apart from that, private educational institutions still have not found their deserved status. Many students consider them as their second choice. During last few years, visible part of students of private universities are those who failed in Kankour. Keeping them as second choice indeed affect the popularity of private universities for part of Afghan families.