Following the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, there has been a large influx of people fleeing and being displaced, which is still ongoing. During the 20 years of the Republic, the field of study and education for young boys and girls became more favorable, encouraging many of the young people who were weary of living abroad to return. Freedoms were also granted to private institutions, resulting in the establishment of hundreds of educational centers and universities. People‘s access to education increased relatively, allowing them to reach their average grades in terms of education. Although there were issues during the Republic government in terms of providing educational background, it had undeniable achievements. The most notable achievement of that period was the training of a significant force that was educated and familiar with technical skills. Thousands of men and women were educated in prestigious international universities, returning to their homeland to work and continue to participate in the training of human forces. Many public and private universities flourished, and a positive competition between young people in pursuing higher education degrees was started. Afghanistan was on the path to progress, and if that trend had continued and its shortcomings were gradually eliminated, the country could have entered the regional competition in the fields of education, production, and politics, becoming an active and effective member.
The halting of this process and the reversal of the country‘s limited progress will come at a great cost to our people. Unfortunately, over the past two years, the exodus of educated and skilled individuals has been relentless. The classrooms of educational institutions are now much emptier than before, and experienced and capable professors have left the country. The recently published report on the personnel situation of Kabul University is alarming; it is said that in the past two years, approximately 400 professors of the esteemed university have departed. However, the issue is not limited to professors alone. Male students dropping out of university due to poverty, the suspension of girls‘ education, the flight of a group of young people who sought refuge in neighboring countries and the West after the Taliban rule, the obstruction of many economic activities and services, including the country‘s media, paints a very bleak picture of Afghanistan. The departure of Afghan elites from the dire situation over these two years has been distinct from what is typically seen in developing countries. In the usual case, elites leave the country gradually and in a planned manner, while maintaining their connection with the country for a prolonged period, and in some cases, especially if incentives are provided in the first country, they return.
Our elites have abandoned the homeland in order to save their lives without a plan, and have often been wandering for years in the markets of the region or in distant countries, contrary to their field of study and skills. Currently, Iran and Pakistan are hosting thousands of Afghan experts, most of whom are working in factories and workshops with minimum wages that are not in line with their field of work, or are even deprived of those minimal opportunities. The few who have made their way to the West and developed countries, if they can gradually find their way in those societies and get suitable job opportunities and return to their field of study and expertise, at best will be absorbed in those societies, without an effective contact for transferring experience to their countrymen. This exodus of elites has almost paralyzed the country, as among them were more journalists, poets and writers, university and school professors, elites, professionals, and experts in various social, cultural, political, and military sectors, on whom huge sums of money were spent to build the future of the country. It is believed that the fleeing of this group from the country will push Afghanistan back hundreds of years and its damage is irreparable.
All human beings have the right to live freely and happily, to have access to suitable employment in order to maintain their human dignity, to choose their place of residence without coercion, and to not have their resources drained away by elites. Society often relies on the expertise, knowledge, and technical skills of these individuals, making manpower the most valuable asset of a country, which Afghanistan has worked hard to obtain and can easily lose.
Unfortunately, in the last two years, many elites of Afghanistan have been forced to seek refuge in other countries due to economic and political issues. The lack of skilled and trained personnel in a society such as Afghanistan is felt more acutely due to the small number of both skilled and unskilled workers. A poverty–stricken society requires the expertise of elites and intellectuals more than any other factor. The most effective and primary solution to eradicate poverty is to foster greater communication between the elites and the impoverished.
Given the current situation, those who have fled the country are unlikely to return, and those who remain are considering leaving. This would result in a significant loss of expertise and elite individuals from society. To prevent this, it is essential to ensure the security of their lives and jobs, and to involve them in the macro–level management of the country, so that they feel their contributions are valued. Unfortunately, education is becoming less important, access to education has been denied to a large portion of the population, the working environment is not conducive to success, and the future of young people is uncertain. As a result, young people are less likely to pursue their studies in the country. The Taliban‘s continued marginalization of them will only further reduce the available resources.
