At Mustaqbal Pohanton University on the eastern edge of Kabul, the new academic year has just begun. Universities in Afghanistan have been closed since August last year.
“Learning and education are the tools for the country’s development,” said student Shagofa Mohammadi. “I am very happy that the universities have reopened.”
Mohammadi studies Sharia Law. Sitting among more than two dozen female students, she said that it was natural for everyone to want an education.
Mohammadi is concerned by a shortage of female lecturers, and some of the classes are taught by male teachers. “According to Islamic Law boys and girls should be educated separately.”
Established in 2014, Mustaqbal Pohanton University has a history of encouraging women to get an education, in spite of prevailing challenges and economic problems.
Vice chancellor of the university Najibullah Nasrat is also concerned about teacher shortages.
Following the end of the U.S.-led occupations, many academics fled the country to escape any Taliban retribution. Nasrat said both male and female lecturers left the country in numbers last year.
“We have about 800 students, including 300 women, studying here. We have 45 teachers and only 14 of them are women,” Nasrat told Xinhua.
The vice chancellor is more worried about economic problems. Many students are unable to pay their tuition.
Lecturer Shamsudin Ahmadzai is hopeful of a solution, but is critical of Western attitudes to women’s education in Afghanistan. He called on the international community to “come in and help us” instead.
Source: United News of Bangladesh