Afghanistan suspends 7 private universities for one year, revokes licenses of 2 others

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Higher Education has announced the suspension of seven private universities for one year and the cancellation of the operating licenses of two others over serious violations and administrative shortcomings.

The ministry said the decision followed inspections and evaluations conducted at universities across Afghanistan during the spring semester of the 1405 solar year. Serious problems were identified at nine private universities, despite repeated warnings and recommendations to address the issues.

According to the ministry, a committee appointed by its leadership council conducted a further review before recommending the suspension and cancellation of the universities’ activities. The recommendations were subsequently approved by the council.

The seven universities suspended for one year are Barlas University in Jawzjan, Rah-e Saadat and Turkistan universities in Balkh, Azhar and Barna universities in Badakhshan, Rashad University in Faryab, and Payam University in Kabul.

The operating licenses of Kohanduz University in Kunduz and Khana-e Danesh University in Takhar have also been revoked.

The ministry cited several violations, including the absence of proper academic and administrative leadership, including university presidents, academic deputies, student affairs deputies and faculty heads.

It also reported the presence of “ghost students” who were listed as enrolled and scheduled for classes despite not being present in classrooms.

Other violations included failure to maintain class attendance records during the first 10 weeks of the semester and allowing students who had been barred from continuing their studies because of poor attendance to sit final examinations, receive passing grades and advance to higher semesters.

The ministry also said some universities lacked the laboratories, equipment and materials required for practical training and were not teaching the curriculum approved by the ministry.

In medical faculties, where much of the training is supposed to take place in hospitals, inspectors reportedly found no students present at hospitals during their visits.

The ministry further alleged that the two universities whose licenses were revoked had falsified attendance records, with some students who had been absent from classes throughout the semester recorded as present in altered attendance sheets.