AFGHANISTAN: ENTRANCE EXAMS TO KABUL'S UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS HAVE ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS

Record ID: 851163

  • Title: AFGHANISTAN: ENTRANCE EXAMS TO KABUL'S UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS HAVE ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS
  • Date: 20th February 2002
  • Summary: (L!3) KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (FEBRUARY 20, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) SLV CANDIDATES ENTERING THROUGH THE GATES MCU/SV/LAS CANDIDATES PRESSING THROUGH THE GATES WITH SECURITY (4 SHOTS) SLV WOMEN IN BURQAS GOING THROUGH THE GATES MCU/CU EDUCATION OFFICIALS CHECKING NOTIFICATION PAPERS (4 SHOTS) SV/LV/MCU STUDENTS IN LECTURE THEATRE (3 SHOTS) SLV/MCU/CU WOMEN IN BURQAS IN LEC
  • Embargoed: 7th March 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
  • City:
  • Country: Afghanistan
  • Topics: Quirky,Politics,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA6FWWU4LA51CK8NDTF0OMF8FYD
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Entrance exams to Kabul's universities and polytechnics have attracted thousands of hopeful students as Afghanistan takes another step towards reviving its shattered education system.
    Thousands gathered at higher education institutions across Kabul on Wednesday (February 20) to take examinations that could win them a much-coveted place at a university or polytechnic.
    There are hundreds more applicants than there are places, but that did not deter the thousands of hopefuls from trying their luck. It is the second round of examinations ahead of the new academic year.
    One of the major transformations at universities this year will be the presence of women. For five years, girls were prevented from attending university, while female teachers were ordered to stay at home in line with strict Taliban decrees.
    Higher education institutions are expected to reopen their doors in March, but there's a long battle ahead to rehabilitate the nation's higher education system.
    In most institutions, there is no running water or electricity, books are scarce and teachers are in short supply.
    Rooms have been stripped of almost everything, and authorities must grapple with the fact that whole generations have been lost to education because of 23 years of war.
    But that hasn't deterred thousands of people from applying to take the higher education entrance exams.
    "And now they have a concrete examination. I think the condition when the Taliban was here, all the people were concerned, the people did not have concrete exams. Now the condition of Afghanistan is very good and people are very happy," said one prospective student.
    Money for education has started trickling in from foreign aid organisations and one American university, Purdue, has offered to help rebuild the devastated Kabul University.
    But for many, the opportunity for women to study again is the major transformation.
    "The first time in 10 years that women, female and men have been sitting in the one classroom and they are ready for exams after 10 years this happened and it's so good for the country," said another hopeful student.
    When universities and polytechnics reopen their doors in March, conditions are still expected to be tough - but at least Afghanistan's young - both male and female - will have the chance to learn again.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register