Head of the High Office for Oversight and Anti-corruption has urged the President to cancel results of the Konkor nationwide university entrance exams announced last week. He has accused corruption in the Ministry of Higher Education during the exam result process.

Mr. Azizullah Ludin’s remarks is surprising. Without any formal petition about corruption, or any investigation or evidence from his office, he has accused the Ministry. Under what legitimate authority does he deem it fit to call for cancellation of the university entrance exam results attended by tens of thousands of Afghan male and female high school graduates from across the country? If he has received any substantial report of corruption or complaints submitted to his office, he should have mentioned and urged formal investigation. But rather, Mr. Ludin has uttered his verdict that the results should be cancelled. It is not only very irresponsible of him, but also shows how well he pursues the widespread corruption in the Government that amount to millions of dollars.

Mr. Ludin has come up with his mind-blowing suggestion that all those students of classes 9, 10, 11, and 12 who have scored more than 7 marks (out of 10) should be introduced to their faculties of choice directly. From head of the anti-corruption watchdog, he seems to have taken on himself the extra responsibility of education expert making verdicts on fate of thousands of students. He has also urged President Karzai to appoint a committee for implementation of his ‘suggestion’.

Regardless of the fact that the Ministry of Higher Education has rejected all his claims, he should be served notice for going out of his official mandate and accuse without any investigation or evidence.

This year’s result of the Konkor university entrance exams has been extraordinary. Students from the most underdeveloped and downtrodden areas of the country have topped. First position holder is a high school graduate from Ghor Province. All the top ten scorers are from Ghor and Daikundi, the two most backward and poor parts of the country. It is ridiculous to accuse the poor students of these provinces who do part-time laboring and cattle shepherding to meet the day’s end, of corruption for their university entrance. A clear indication of biasness can be found in the remarks of Mr. Azizullah Ludin and such behavior should be dealt with appropriately. The President must discourage such attitude among the officials.