Some experts say that economic hardship, social pressure, and political and educational restrictions have led to a decline in male enrollment at universities. In their view, the imposition of particular preferences in university environments, compulsory dress requirements, the imposition of specific viewpoints and ideologies, and the absence of an open academic atmosphere have reduced young people’s motivation to continue higher education. Meanwhile, a number of students are calling for access to quality education, suitable job opportunities, reasonable academic freedoms, and a healthy, dynamic environment in which to nurture their talents and achieve their goals.
Miagul Wasiq, an education expert, says that educational restrictions, the imposition of particular preferences at universities, compulsory dress requirements, and the imposition of a specific mindset and ideology are among the factors that make students lose interest. According to him, the lack of job opportunities and the uncertain academic and professional future of young people are other factors that discourage them from continuing their studies.
Mr. Wasiq says: “The absence of academic staff, who were forced to leave the country or were dismissed by the Taliban, has also negatively affected students’ ability to continue their studies. In addition, economic problems and the responsibility of providing for their families force young people to choose between education and meeting their families’ needs.”
The expert adds: “Seeing educated people removed from government offices and institutions, uncertainty about career prospects, the presence of intermediaries and bribery in the hiring process, and the exclusion of girls, who make up half of society, from education are other factors that can also make boys lose interest in continuing their studies. Under current conditions, the exclusion of girls from education and the loss of interest among boys in continuing their studies will produce an illiterate society and hold Afghanistan back from progress for years.”
Asif Nang, a deputy minister of education in the former government, says that the state of higher education in Afghanistan is stagnating and that this trend may continue in the future. According to him, the decline in student enrollment at universities may have economic, social, and political causes.
Mr. Nang says: “At public universities, the fields of study that students are interested in are not sufficiently available, and studying at private universities is also very expensive. Under current conditions, many young people are forced to choose between work and education. In addition, the shortage of educational facilities and services, particularly in the provinces, is also evident. On the other hand, students have little hope for the future. Many of them hoped to be hired for their desired positions after graduation, but now, seeing the lack of free competition and the diminished role of expertise and talent in the hiring process, they prefer to look for work and earn a living instead of continuing their education.”
Ahmad (pseudonym), a student at Kabul University, says that the restrictions imposed by the Taliban, including limits on students’ dress, the elimination of some faculties, reduced admission capacity in several faculties, and the removal of some academic subjects, are among the factors that have negatively affected young people’s interest in and motivation for continuing their education.
According to him, the lack of job opportunities, the absence of a clear outlook for the future, the lack of a reliable authority to support students, the disregard for students’ rights, and the neglect of educated people are other problems that have caused widespread concern among young people over the past five years.
The student says: “Young people naturally want freedom and independence in various areas of life, whether in education or in choosing what to wear.”
Ahmad adds: “All of these factors together have reduced young people’s interest and motivation to continue university education, to the point that many of them are willing to endure the hardships of life but give up on continuing their studies at universities. This situation shows that to increase young people’s motivation for education, serious attention must be paid to the reasonable freedoms of students, improving the quality of education, providing job opportunities, and creating a clear outlook for their future.”
Shaker (pseudonym), another student, says that the decline in student enrollment at universities is not merely an educational issue, but a reflection of deep economic and social problems and of the restrictions present in educational environments.
According to him, economic problems, unemployment among graduates, educational restrictions, and a lack of sufficient motivation are among the factors that reduce young people’s interest in continuing their education.
The student says: “In my view, a university is not just a place to obtain a degree, but an environment for intellectual growth, character development, strengthening analytical ability, and preparing to serve society. When a student feels that, after years of study, there is no suitable ground for using their knowledge and abilities, it is natural for them to doubt their academic future.”
He adds: “To increase student enrollment, the ground must be prepared for quality education, job opportunities, reasonable academic freedoms, and an environment suited to the development of young people’s talents, because investing in universities is investing in the future of a nation, and weakening higher education in effect means weakening the scientific and professional capacity of society.”
This comes as two United Nations bodies, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), reported in a document titled “The State of Education in Afghanistan in 2026” that the participation and inclusion of male students in Afghanistan’s universities in 2026 has declined by about 30 percent compared with 2019.
According to the report, about 208,000 male students enrolled in higher education institutions this year, while their number in 2019 was estimated at 306,000.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
از ناامیدی دانشجویان تا هشدار کارشناسان؛ چرا پسران از تحصیلات دانشگاهی فاصله میگیرند؟
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