Lack of hostels: Bamyan students warn to quit studies

BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): University students in central Bamyan province complain the lack of hostels and high rents of private rooms in the provincial capital has left them with no option but to abandon their education.

The students said hundreds of their fellows daily roamed the streets of Bamyan City to find rooms with reasonable rents since the start of this academic year.

Some students have rented rooms previously used as warehouses and others stayed away for being economically not in good position.

Mohammad Hussain, who made it to the Agriculture University of Bamyan this year, told Pajhwok Afghan News he came to Bamyan city few days ago and was since searching for a room.

“The rents of rooms are high while located in streets away from our university. The rents range from 3,000 to 4,000 afghanis, which is very high and most students cannot afford. I did not know the Bamyan University has no hostel; otherwise I would not have got admission here. I must leave my education,” he said.

Female university students faced the same problem in Bamyan. Mariam, a fresh Bamyan University student, said they spent entire day searching for rooms, but unsuccessful so far.

“Unfortunately Bamyan city is like a village, it has very limited facilities. The Ministry of Higher Education should consider this problem,” she said.

Bamyan University’s deputy chancellor, Mohammad Amin Joya, confirmed the accommodation problem but said the central government was responsible for not paying attention to the issue.

The university’s only hostel has the capacity to accommodate 450 male and 50 female students among the total 6,500 including 16 percent of them girls.

Joya said the Bamyan University had the capacity to accept 1,700 new students this year, but the Ministry of Higher Education sent 1,800 students.

“On the other hand, some people and owners of residential buildings are taking advantage of the situation and have created problems for students. Property owners have increased the rents which is a serious problem that needs attention of both local and central governments,” he said.

Bamyan governor’s spokesman, Abdur Rahman Ahmadi, said they were working to provide accommodation facilities to students and would convince owners of residential areas to charge fair rents.

“We would provide every facility to students we have access to, but the main problem is the central government that did not provide budget for building hostels on the campus,” he said.