Students from outside Kabul living in the Ministry of Education’s (MoE) Vocational and Professional Training Hostel in the city on Sunday complained that some rooms are being used by members of the public who are not students. 

MoE hostels are only meant to house students from other provinces who are attending academic and vocational schools in Kabul. 

Schools closed a month ago for the winter holidays but legitimate hostel residents at this hostel say rooms are still being occupied by non-students. 

TOLOnews spoke to some of the students who asked that their identities be withheld. The names used are not their real names. 

“Believe me there is no difference between students and other people. We are afraid that these unknown guys may carry out terrorist activities. Nearly 60 to 80 new people have come here and they are using the services that are provided for students,” said Ahmad, one student.

The students also complained that the newcomers use drugs and play loud music well into the night. 

“When we walk around, we can smell hashish. They do things that a student never does,” said Rahman, another student.

“They play Dambura all night,” said Mirwais, another student.

However, some sources have said that members of parliament have placed these newcomers in the hostel and that the MoE is not able to evict them. 

The students said they have complained to ministry officials, but nothing has been done to resolve the problem. 

“One day when we were in line to get food, I asked one of them for his student ID card. He said he had a letter from a minister or MP and that the dormitory principle could not stop them,” said Mohammad, another student.

The MoE has however said they will address the issue in the near future.

“According to regulations, only students from remote provinces are allowed to live in the hostel. We will investigate the issue and evict those who don’t belong,” said Mujib Mehrdad, spokesman for the MoE.

According to the regulations, a student who achieves a total aggregate of 65 percent can live in a hostel for nine months of the year.