KABUL (SW) – Evidence collected by Salam Watanar suggest a number of higher education institutions in the private sector are defying regulations and lack basic facilities despite charging inflated fees.
About four months ago, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani issued a decree calling for study into privatized higher education institutions. In this ruling, Mr. Ghani called for the formation of a commission headed by the Deputy Chief Audit Office and composed of representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Justice, the Attorney General’s Office, the Directorate of National Security and the Presidential Administration Office. The president sought report in this regard within a month.
But now, about four months later, no decision has been made about the future of these private universities as many people complain about lack of a regular curriculum, suitable premises, and higher fees.
The latest report from the Higher Audit Office on private higher education institutions shows that a number of private universities do not comply with the official conditions and criteria, and have incomplete curriculum, are offering master’s degree without meeting requirements and lack basic facilities.
The review report shows that the Iranian Payam-e-Noor University’s Kabul campus, Iran Mustafa Society University’s Kabul branch and the American University of Afghanistan’s Kabul have been among those partly or fully violating the rules.
The report also cites the lack of permanent location and the operation of private universities and higher education institutions in rented buildings, the lack of laboratories for practical work, and the higher semester fees as main problems.
Findings of the Higher Audit Office show that the Afghanistan Institute of Higher Education, Ibn Sina University, Da’wah University, Kateb University, Bakhtar University, Khatam al-Nabin University, Dunya University, Al-Mustafa University’s Kabul branch, and the Islamic Azad University’s Kabul branch are at the bottom of the list in terms of required criteria and compliance with rules.
In addition, most private universities and institutes of higher education do not have the minimum of at least four doctoral teachers for master’s programs in accordance with the Ministry of Higher Education regulations. It also revealed the Ministry of Higher Education has not evaluated the qualifications of teachers of master’s degree programs at private higher education institutions at the time of issuing licenses.
The report of the Supreme Audit Office added that a number of private universities and institutes of higher education, although not licensed to work in the master’s degree, have attracted more students than the ceiling set for the master’s degree classes. The American University of Afghanistan, Bakhtar University, Kateb University, Khatam al-Nabi University, Islamic Azad University, Kardan University, Da’wah University, Dunya University and the Afghanistan Institute of Higher Education are some of the private institutions that have enrolled students in the master’s degree above the ceiling set by the MoHE.
The report states that many of the following institutes have enrolled students in various faculties without having obtaining the license from the MoHE. Some of the examples in this regard are the Kardan University’ faculty of journalism, Mashal University’s faculty of computer science, Rana University’s faculty of English, Rah-e Saadat Institute in Balkh’s faculty of Sharia, Maiwand Institute’s faculty of law and political science and education, Peshgaam Institute of Higher Education’s faculty of law and political science, education and computer science, Afghan Pamir Institute of Higher Education’s faculty of law and political science, Shifa Institute of Higher Education’s faculty of therapeutic medicine, Institute of Higher Education’s computer science faculty and Maryam University’s faculty of education.
In addition, the report said Kardan University launched economics faculty, American University of Afghanistan went ahead with the social sciences, Rana Institute of Higher Education began economics, Ariana Institute of Higher Education launched law and political science, economics and therapeutic medicine, Aria Institute of Higher Education began law and science political, economics and therapeutic medicine, the Khana-e-Noor started computer science, law and political science and economics, Hewad Institute of Higher Education launched faculty of law and political science, computer science and economics, Ahl al-Bayt Institute of Higher Education’s faculties of Sharia and midwifery and Islamic Higher Education University’s faculty of economics were launched before obtaining the license.
It further said the premises of Jehan Institute of Higher Education, the Institute of Higher Education of Afghanistan, the Institute of Higher Education of Bayazid Roshan, the Institute of Higher Education of Razi, and the Institute of Higher Education of Idraak have not been adequately constructed. It said Khana-e-Noor Higher Education Institute, Esteqlal Higher Education Institute, Ariana Higher Education Institute, National Higher Education Institute, Ibn Khaldun Higher Education Institute, Numan Sadat Higher Education Institute, Abu Rihan Higher Education Institute, Azhar Higher Education Institute, Kabura Higher Education Institute, Peshgam and a number of other institutions do not have a suitable place for studies.
Rejecting these allegations, Dr. Zahir Ayoubi, a spokesman for Kardan University, said that the university’s journalism department operates under the auspices of the Faculty of Social Sciences. According to him, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, which has been operating for 14 years, is licensed. According to him, attracting more students to the master’s degree is not a violation and is a need of the society.
Officials at the American University of Afghanistan also rejected the report, saying that the university was recognized by the Afghan Ministry of Higher Education as one of the most prestigious universities and it regularly submits its work reports to the relevant institutions.
Ahmad Zia Yousefzai, director of universities and institutions of private higher education at the Ministry of Higher Education, told Salam Watandar that nine private universities and institutes operating at the master’s levels have been fined between AFN 100,000 1 million. According to Mr. Yousefzai, all universities that have a master’s degree program have already been warned that if they admit more than 30 students in a batch, their credentials will not be approved.
ENDS
