Higher Education Minister Reports Over 6,300 Graduate Students Enrolled Nationwide

Minister of Higher Education Sheikh Nida Mohammad Nadim announced that more than 6,300 students are currently pursuing graduate degrees across Afghanistan’s higher education sector. The statement followed an official visit to Kandahar province, where the minister met with faculty and administrators at Ibrahim al-Nakhai University and the Afghanistan University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.

According to the minister, the country has established 90 Master’s programs and 20 doctoral programs. He confirmed that 6,342 students are actively enrolled in these advanced academic tracks. During his visit, Nadim emphasized the importance of maintaining strict academic standards for all graduate-level coursework and research.

At an academic council meeting held in the province, the minister approved several institutional requests aimed at strengthening postgraduate education. These approvals included funding for a new research center building, the allocation of a dedicated research budget, and the development of specialized textbooks for graduate students. The initiatives are intended to expand academic resources and support scholarly output within the national university system.

The visit to Kandahar reflects ongoing administrative efforts to assess and support higher education infrastructure across the provinces. Officials noted that expanding postgraduate opportunities and strengthening research capabilities remain central objectives for the sector.