The Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) has warned that a number of private higher education institutions and universities are violating education regulations and that if found guilty will be held accountable. 

MoHE spokesman Faisal Amin said according to documents they received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), concerns have been raised over the Swiss UMEF University in Afghanistan which claims to be affiliated to a Swiss university. 

“Unfortunately, there are a number of private universities which are violating regulations. We continue our efforts to introduce such universities and institutions to the Attorney General’s Office in order to assess their cases.

“We received documents from the foreign ministry and the Afghanistan embassy in Switzerland about the UMEF University in Afghanistan. It shows that there is no (affiliate) university by this name in Switzerland,” said Faisal Amin, MoHE spokesman.

Commenting on the issue, university lecturer Nasrullah Mohseni said: “Half of the private universities in Afghanistan have been established for economic and political purposes. Meanwhile, provinces are faced with lots of problems in private higher education institutions.”

“Private universities in Afghanistan should operate legally and based on a standard quality. If they want to give an education certificate to those who have not been part of their class, this is a crime and should be investigated,” said Sayed Nadir Shah, an MP.