‘Kankoor exams quota not based on population’

KABUL (SW) – The Ministry of Higher Education clarified today the new policy for the ‘Kankoor’ university entrance exams is comprehensive, inclusive and not based on population.

This comes after an uproar in the social media over the cabinet’s approval of the new policy for the ‘Kankoor’ that was seen by many as discriminative against certain provinces. The MoHE officials told the press conference in this connection that the ‘Kankoor’ is a national competitive program, and would never be devised on provincial quotas.

Faisal Ameen, spokesman for the MoHE, said 75 per cent of the main ‘Kankoor’ quota and 25 per cent of the regional quota would be up for grab in the university entrance exams. He added the general ‘Kankoor’ exams would be conducted nationwide just like the past years, however, for the 25 per cent seats on the regional level in the fields of medicine, engineering, law, economics, agriculture and information technology, the exams would be held separately.

The MoHE spokesman stressed this new policy is not discriminative, but in line with the ground realities in the fields of higher education.

Noorya Nuzhat, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, told the presser that the new policy has been devised to provide equal opportunities to all.

However, a number of Wolesi Jirga (lower house) members have also criticized the new ‘Kankoor’ policy, describing it as unfair towards the youth. They warned implementation of this strategy would pose serious threats in the future.

Based on this strategy, specific quota in certain fields has been set for certain less developed provinces.

ENDS