Salam Watandar interviewed 42 candidates for the 1405 Kankor examination and found that 30 of them had chosen their field of study consciously and based on personal interest, while 12 had made their choice under the influence of family expectations or social and economic pressures.
The students’ preferred fields included medicine, computer science, engineering, economics, journalism, and agriculture. 7 of the respondents remained undecided about their field of study.
Candidates who selected their fields consciously and based on personal interest say they based their decisions on employment opportunities, the labor market’s capacity to absorb graduates, and consultations with teachers and academic advisors.
Mohammad Mustafa Malekzai, an 18-year-old candidate who chose curative medicine out of personal interest, says,
“I chose curative medicine because I want to help people and serve society. If there are more doctors in the country, people will be less forced to seek treatment abroad, and life will become easier and more peaceful.”
According to the findings of this report, families have played different roles in students’ choice of academic fields. Some families support their children’s choices, while others, without considering their interests, pressure them to choose fields preferred by the family.
Jalaluddin and Mohammad Ajmal, both 18 years old and interested in computer science, say their families supported them in choosing their field of study and encouraged them to make decisions based on their own interests. Jalaluddin says,
“My family gave me the freedom to choose and told me to study whichever field I am interested in. They encouraged me to continue pursuing my passion.”
Mohammad Ajmal, also says, “My family has always emphasized making decisions through consultation and choosing a field that truly interests me. That is why the final decision was entirely mine.”
Elhamuddin Sarwari, a 20-year-old from Kabul, says that without considering his interests, his family insists that he pursue medicine or engineering.
“The reason I have not chosen a field yet is that I want to become a businessman, but my family wants me to study medicine or engineering,” he says.
Mohammad Yaqub Kohestani, another candidate, emphasizes that making informed decisions requires consultation. He adds,
“It is natural to feel anxious when choosing a field of study. This problem can be solved by seeking advice from experienced individuals and teachers. A person should make such decisions based on personal interest and desire.”
The findings also show that many candidates are deeply concerned about their future employment prospects. Some have not yet selected a field of study—not because they lack interest, but because they fear unemployment after graduation.
Khatam Yaqubi, a19-year-old candidate, says, “I still have not chosen a specific field because I face many concerns. For example, people who did not choose carefully are currently unemployed.”
Sayed Ahmad Hossaini, a 23-year-old candidate also says, “I have not selected a field yet because many people regret the fields they chose after failing to find employment related to their studies.”
The report also includes interviews with families of male students preparing to take this year’s Kankor examination. They say that students should choose their fields based on their interests, talents, and abilities so they can become successful and productive members of society.
Sohaila, a 45-year-old mother of a Kankor candidate, says she has tried to ensure that her son chooses the field he truly wants. She says,
“In my opinion, every child should choose a field they are interested in and have talent for. I never want to impose a field on my child. I can share my opinion and advice, but the final decision should belong to him. As a mother, I fully support his decision.”
Education experts also emphasized the critical role families play in students’ academic decisions, arguing that paving the ground for children to choose freely can play an important role in their educational success. Jamaluddin Sulaimani, an education expert, says,
“When a field of study is imposed on a student, their motivation declines and they cannot learn properly. This lack of interest prevents them not only from making academic progress but also from becoming productive members of society after graduation. However, when students choose a field based on their own interest, they study with greater motivation and dedication.”
Meanwhile, field data collected from private educational centers indicates that demand for public universities has risen significantly compared to private universities.
Sayed Bashir Raufi, head of a private educational center in Kabul, says, “Public universities are more popular because they are economically more affordable for students and often provide better facilities than many private universities.”
Alongside male candidates, there are also girls who have been deprived of participating in the Kankor examination and continuing their education for the past four years. Interviews with 18 of these girls show that all of them had clear educational goals before girls’ education beyond grade 6 was halted.
Sana, a 20-year-old girl who has been deprived of continuing her studies after grade 11, says, “Because I loved business and had a strong interest in economics, I wanted to study economics so that I could establish a business and earn a good income.”
Farzana Hossaini, another 21-year-old girl, who also has been deprived of continuing her school after grade 9, says,
“I wanted to study journalism. I always dreamed of becoming a reporter and preparing reports about people’s problems. I thought that through the media I could convey people’s voices to others and raise awareness about social issues.”
The findings further indicate that although many of these girls initially experienced deep despair and uncertainty about their future, a significant number of them have tried to maintain their connection with education through online learning, studying arts, and foreign language courses.
Laila, a 20-year-old girl, believes that no situation remains constant forever, and she hopes that one day she will be able to continue her studies. She says,
“Despite all the difficulties, I still have hope. I believe that no situation remains constant forever. I still wish that one day I will be able to go to university and complete my studies. Maybe reaching this dream takes time, but I still believe that education can change a person’s future.”
Hamida Amiri, another 20-year-old girl, also says, “I still hope that one day the doors of schools and education will open again for us, and we will be able to achieve all the dreams and goals we have in mind. That is why we continue, we try, and we remain hopeful that success will come to us one day.”
Meanwhile, officials from the General Examination Authority stated that this year’s Kankor examination, which officially began in the month of May, will be conducted in four phases across all provinces. According to the officials, candidates will be given more time to complete the exam, and returnees from abroad will also be allowed to take the test in Arabic or English languages.
Naser Khan Shirzai, spokesperson for the General Examination Authority, says,
“Previously, the examination lasted two and a half hours, but now the duration has been extended to more than four hours so that candidates can answer questions with greater concentration. In the past, the exam was offered only in Dari and Pashto, but now candidates returning from abroad can also choose Arabic and English question papers.”
According to statistics provided by the General Examination Authority, participation in the Kankor examination has changed in recent years. In 1401 (Solar Hijri year), approximately 125,000 students—both male and female—participated in the exam. In 1402, following the ban on girls’ participation, the number dropped to 85,000. Participation increased to 87,000 in 1403 and reached 106,000 in 1404. According to the authority’s data, around 120,000 candidates are expected to participate in the nationwide Kankor examination in 1405. This will be the fourth consecutive Kankor examination held without the participation of girls.
Reporter: Eshwa Azizi
