A number of Afghan youth in Kabul who are pursuing online education say they are concerned about the impact of power outages on their learning process. They say electricity cuts disrupt internet connections, cause their mobile phone and computer batteries to run out, and even lead them to miss parts of their lessons. These challenges have limited their learning opportunities.
Experts emphasize that the continuation of this situation not only reduces the quality of education but also negatively affects youth academic motivation and the development of skilled human resources.
In this report, a number of Afghan youth not only complain about disruptions to their education caused by power outages but also describe the difficulties they face in accessing and using their technological devices when needed.
Nasratullah Hamidi, a 22-year-old resident of Kabul’s District 4 and an economics student at an online university, says power outages have repeatedly caused him to miss classes and important parts of his lessons.
“So far, I have lost around four or five very important academic credits, and overall, I have missed parts of my lessons. All these problems have been caused by power shortages because either my phone was not charged or my laptop had shut down,” he says.
The challenges caused by power outages are not limited to missing classes. Internet disruptions, the shutdown of electronic devices, and difficulties accessing and using technology are among the other problems that have made the learning process more difficult for youth.
Zarif Ibrahimkhail, a 23-year-old resident of Kabul’s District 15 who has been learning English online for about a year, says power outages and internet interruptions have repeatedly prevented him from attending online classes.
“When the electricity goes out, we face problems such as darkness because our classes are held through video. Sometimes, the Wi-Fi also does not work without electricity. These negative effects greatly affect our progress,” he says.
Sabiha Azimi, a 23-year-old journalism student in her third year who studies online, also says,
“I have personally left classes several times because of power outages, or my phone battery ran out, or I could not join the class at all. This caused me to miss parts of my lessons and spend more time studying to make up for them. When a teacher explains a topic in class, it stays in the mind better.”
Meanwhile, a number of Afghan youth say continuing online education without stable electricity is difficult. They call on the authorities to provide stable electricity and the necessary facilities so they can continue their education without interruption.
Fatima Bahadori, an 18-year-old resident of Kabul’s District 1 and a 12th-grade student at an online school, says the lack of electricity has reduced youth motivation toward education.
“The lack of electricity reduces our motivation and disrupts our study schedules, and our concerns about our educational future have increased significantly. Therefore, I expect them to provide us with stable electricity, improve internet services, and provide the necessary facilities for education, especially for youth,” she adds.
Education experts also believe that the lack of stable electricity and limited access to the internet have posed serious challenges to online education in Afghanistan. Jamaluddin Sulaimani, an education expert, says,
“In Afghanistan, the lack of stable electricity and the absence of permanent internet, or its high cost, have caused many problems for online education. In many cases, these issues have caused students to become tired and even discouraged from continuing their online education, leading some to leave their classes.”
Meanwhile, sociologists say that the continuation of this situation affects not only education but also poses challenges to the future of skilled human resources and the country’s development.
Shoaib Ahmadi, a sociologist, says that without sufficient electricity, society’s progress will slow down. He explains,
“The lack of electricity can increase problems such as the decline of human capital and the shortage of skilled professionals. People working in research, education, and specialized fields need electricity and digital facilities. If these resources are not available, their motivation decreases, and society is deprived of the growth of skilled human resources.”
Meanwhile, Mohammad Sadeq Haqparast, spokesperson for Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), says the current electricity shortage is caused by the gap between the country’s demand and the amount of electricity available. As a result, populated cities, especially Kabul, face more frequent power outages.
“Kabul city alone requires around 700 megawatts of electricity, while currently only about 350 megawatts are available for Kabul. That is why power outages are more frequent in Kabul and Nangarhar, as these two provinces have larger populations. Around 17 projects are currently underway in Afghanistan. This is not a one-week or one-month task; these projects require time to be implemented,” he says.
Afghanistan has faced electricity shortages for many years. Currently, the country needs around 4,000 megawatts of electricity but has access to only nearly 750 megawatts. This gap between actual demand and available electricity is one of the main causes of power outages in the country. The problem not only affects citizens’ daily lives but also creates serious challenges for online learning, education, and youth access to technology.
Reporter: Eshwa Azizi
