Report
Kabul’s educated youth: What kind of future?
This report summarizes the findings of the research titled ‘Kabul’s educated youth: What kind of future?’ conducted by Human Rights and Eradication of Violence Organization (HREVO), Afghanistan for Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS), Afghanistan.
At a time when 68 % of the population of Afghanistan is under 25 years, the research aims at getting an insight into the mindsets of Kabul’s educated young generation. The research was conducted on a sample of 300 male and female students from government and private universities in Kabul during the month of March 2011. The students were selected from law, economics, engineering, medical and social science faculties in equal numbers i.e. 150 male and 150 female students. From each of the faculties 30 male and female students were interviewed. The age group of the sampled students ranges between 18 to 26 years and the average age is 23 years. Commensurate with the ratio of various ethnicities in Afghanistan, the sample is represented by 38% Pashtuns, 25% Tajiks, 19% Hazaras, 7% Uzbeks and 11% other ethnicities.
| Kabul’s educated youth: What kind of future? | |
| Editor | Heinrich Böll Foundation Afghanistan in cooperation with Human Rights and Eradication of Violence Organization (HREVO) |
| Place of publication | Kabul |
| Date of publication | January 2013 |
| Pages | 34 |
| ISBN | -- |
| Service charge | Free of charge |
Short Summary
Almost half of the students are currently working. The majority of students, 87%, in this survey is unmarried (262, out of which 134 are female). 88% of the students live with their families confirming strong family life in Afghanistan.They are of middle class standing and have at least one educated parent. Over 42% mothers were found to be without any education as compared to 15% fathers and 43% fathers are graduated as compared to 15% mothers. 65% male and 74 % female students look to their fathers and mothers respectively for admiration and inspiration representing a traditional approach.
97% percent students enjoy watching television while a large percentage of students (59%) do so for general information and for getting information on current affairs (51%). 79% of the students enjoy watching movies. Over 42% students like Indian movies. 85% students enjoy listening to music where more female students (88%) like to listen to music than male (81%). 75 % of the students, 44 % female, own a computer at home, 68% of them have access to Internet and 24% use the Internet daily.
79% students (male and female equally) are optimistic about their future in Afghanistan. Out of these students, over 82% in the age group 18 to 21 years are positive about the future as compared to 72% in the age group over 21 years. Despite a high level of optimism displayed by the youth, 58% students want to travel abroad for education and better life. 96% of those who desire to go abroad like to stay there for a longer period. The proportion of students desiring to go abroad is the same among the optimists and pessimists.
48% of the students are working for a good social status and financial stability. Coupled with the opportunities on the current job market and the opening of private universities and evening classes, both students and employed persons get a chance to continue their jobs and studies simultaneously.
Over 53% male and 64% female students have friends of the opposite sex. The majority of single students like to choose their spouse on their own, however 63% students said that they would approve if their family chose their spouse. More than half of the respondents don’t predict a problem with their families if they manage to logically explain their needs and wants, thus the problem arises when a want or need is presented to family and couldn’t be explained properly. 95% of the students surveyed – both male and female – expect their future spouse to be educated. Half of the female students preferred a post graduate spouse while male students (58%) preferred a graduate or post graduate spouse. 62% male students want their future spouse to be working. 46% students wish higher education level of PhD for their sons as against 33% for a similar education for their daughters.
86% female students and 72% male students believe that women and men should have equal rights. 20% female and 12% male students above the age of 26 years think that women and men do not have have equal rights.
Over 65% female students would like to work and over 33% like to get involved in both economic and household life. 70% male students said that they will allow their wife to work. Those who do not want their wife to work give the reasons that women should take care of the house and the children.They also think that there are no working places for women according to Islamic law and that working with strangers is against religion or against culture. 11% female students will not be allowed to work by their family. The men’s perception of women’s rights and whether they should work also depend on the economic situation of the household. Over 84% male students from poor households said that they would allow their wife to work as compared to 66% and 69% male students from economically fair and well households respectively.
57% female students were found to be happy with their current role in society. The role of men in Afghan society is perceived as much greater because they are able to appear in the public sphere without censure, unlike Afghan women.
