afghans flock to colleges, even as taliban loom - overhead projector

Ten years ago, Roeen Rahmani and some friends spent $300 on a projector and a rented room to teach a business course for Afghans who are out of civil war and Taliban rule.
No one showed up in the first class.
Today, this initial effort has evolved into Caldan University, a private institution that has educated more than 8,000 students in areas such as political science and civil engineering.
But that's not enough for school principal Rahmani.
"My vision is bigger than that," he said . ".
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Demand for Higher Education surged during the war
A country full of confidence in the future.
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About 7,870 students attended Afghan universities before the United States. S. -
Invasion in 2001;
The number today is 26-
According to the Ministry of Higher Education, this number has increased to nearly 204,000, with women making up the fifth.
This increase is possible in part because Afghan leaders are aware that the number of public universities in the country has fallen sharply due to years of war and cannot meet the demand for seats.
Private higher education was legalized in 2006.
According to the Ministry of Education, today 70 private higher education institutions operate in Afghanistan, educating about 74,000 students, or more than third of the total.
Many people, like Kardan, are founded by businessmen with little or no background in academic circles.
Some are supported by foreign governments fighting for influence here, at least one is by the formerTaliban leader.
The education authorities say measures are being taken to ensure that private schools are more than just money --making schemes.
But even critics argue that a thriving private sector is critical to education in a country of 30 million people.
Thirty of them are 24 or under 24.
"Especially in developing countries, you need to invest in higher education because the need for leadership is so big . "
The University of Afghanistan is a private non-profit organization with more than 1,000 students.
"You need a strong government sector and you need a strong private sector.
"Walking around the Kardan campus, you can see the sights of Afghanistan that often disappear in daily reports about violence, the Taliban insurgency and the taking over of Afghan forces from the departing United StatesS. -led coalition.
Afghan sophomore students take notes at the Business Administration class at Kardan University in Kabul.
AP Photo/Ahmed Jamshid young woman in tight jeans and colored headscarves take notes with fashionable young men in hair.
Flyers post notices of extra-curricular activities.
Teachers recruited from Pakistan, India and Beyond added some international flavor.
There is no campus square and stadium, basically an office building, but the energy passed through the hall is obvious.
Alima Mohib, a shy, slim 22-year-
Old, is studying for a degree in business administration.
Like many of her classmates, she did not score well enough in the highly competitive college entrance examination in Afghanistan to get a place in public universities, so she chose Kardan.
"I'm very happy," Mohib said . "
"I believe that after I finish my work, I will be able to work for a good organization.
"The driving force behind Kardan is Rahmani, a 31-year-old skinny man, who is a goat, lest any member of the academic institution think he is too young to do his job.
His founding partners have parted ways, but Rahmani has recruited other young and energetic Afghans.
Rahmani spent most of his childhood as a refugee in neighboring Pakistan.
He says he has multiple degrees in business. One is an MBA from the University of York, Canada, at the shuliqi Business School, where he lives intermittently.
Rahmani says Kardan has an operating budget of $4 million and charges around $6,600 per 4 months
Bachelor's degree.
Many students have jobs and they can pay their wages on a monthly basis.
The rapid rise of the school has raised questions about whether it is to train qualified graduates or to attract students from their money.
None of the people who criticize it will be on the record, but Rahmani says their suspicions are wrong and all the profits are invested back to school.
"I 've read what people call me a drug dealer, a mafia or something, but I'm glad I wasn't involved," he said . ".
Rahmani admits that some of Kardan's projects require more academic rigour, but the standard of prediction will increase over time.
If private universities operating in war zones must meet Western standards, countless Afghans will never be able to get university degrees, he said.
"We have to go, or we won't be able to go anywhere," he said . ".
Of course, few ordinary Afghans can afford any type of university, especially in rural areas where illiteracy and poverty are rampant.
Even 31 public universities that do not charge tuition fees, due to incidental costs such as transportation and textbook fees, cannot afford to many.
Public universities in Afghanistan themselves are also struggling to meet the standards of higher education institutions in more developed countries.
Only about 5% of teachers have a PhD. D.
According to the department, people in the United States and their third-year-olds have master's degrees, while there are only two authorized doctoral programs in the country.
It doesn't have private sector figures, but it's not uncommon to find teachers in their 20 s in places like Kardan.
Last year, the Ministry of Education launched a certification system for all colleges.
At the moment, getting certification is a voluntary process, but it will be mandatory in the next few years, said U. S. Senator Fred HaywardS.
Consultant to the department. The drawn-
The schedule gives the school a chance to improve itself.
"Our goal is not to close higher education institutions.
"Our goal is to make them better," Hayward said . ".
The name Kardan Kumar means "professional", which is a fierce competition for public universities, but so is an increasing number of other private institutions, some of which promote religious ideology
Iran Islamic Azad University has a campus in Kabul and is considered one of several universities in Iran.
Funded universities in Afghanistan.
According to Afghan and Arab media reports, Saudi Arabia plans to establish a large Islamic center in Kabul, including a university.
American University of Afghanistan is considered one of the best universities in the country, mainly in five
The acre campus in Kabul is developing an additional 80-acre campus across the street and establishing branches in other cities.
There are also higher education colleges in Afghanistan.
Led by 1990-year-old waqile Ahmed mutawaqil, who served as foreign minister under the Taliban government.
Of the 360 students in the Institute, about 55 were women, with Class Gender
Despite the lack of female staff, men teach some female courses.
Its projects include business management and Islamic Research.
Abdul Jabbar Baheer, the school administrator, denied that the Taliban would not recognize women.
He said the campaign wants all students to be educated within the religious framework, but when the Taliban rule, their government lacks funds to educate women and men.
Whether the Taliban will return to power is a major issue before us. As U. S. -
The leadership forces have reduced their presence and are planning a complete withdrawal by the end of 2014, with Taliban insurgents strengthening attacks across the country.
However, despite the uncertainty, Afghan college students are still optimistic about pursuing their dreams, even without any eyes.
Kardan student Liza Ormol has 10-
Annual academic program.
During this period, she intends to receive a bachelor's degree in business, two master's degrees and a doctorateD.
"I am a very positive person.
19-year-old thinkeryear-old said.
"I believe everything I do is the best for me and my country.