The executive director of the United Kingdom’s cultural center in Afghanistan (British Coucil) on Monday said the level of higher education in Afghanistan needs to improve and that Afghan students should have access to education that is in line with world standards.  

British Council CEO, Ciaran Devane, said at a gathering at the Afghanistan Center at Kabul University that the United Kingdom will continue its support to Afghanistan in the higher education sector. 

Addressing guests at the event – under the theme Cultural Relations and Building Resilience – Devane outlined the UK’s plan to promote culture and enhance higher education in Afghanistan. 

“Another part of our work is to support the preservation and promotion of  Afghan culture. We have a cultural protection fund in the UK,” said Devane. 

Devane said the United Kingdom has promised 750 million pounds to Afghanistan and with this money they will be able to implement their plans.

“The UK government has pledged 750 million pounds to our program to support  Afghanistan and as an institution I hope we will continue to develop our own programs,” Devane added.

Devane also said in December 2016, UK had provided over two million pounds to promote the activities of Feroz Koh Organization, a cultural institution in Kabul.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s acting higher education minister Abdul Latif Roshan said in the past five years the higher education system has undergone positive changes.

“Ministry of higher education made tangible and intangible progress and achievements,” said Roshan.

The new promises by the UK government to standardize Afghanistan’s higher education system comes amid ongoing complaints by students that the standard of education is poor – despite numerous changes having been made over the past 16 years.