KABUL - More than 270 students and government servants would go to Turkey to continue higher studies in that country, Ministry of Higher Education officials said on Sunday.
Speaking at a ceremony in Kabul, the foreign relation department head at the ministry, Syed Shershah Sadat, said 199 of the 277 were students who secured good marks in last year's entry test.

The students and officials, who would study medicine, mines, engineering, agriculture and technology, included three girls, he said, adding 27 students had already been sent to India for higher studies. They will depart on November 1.

All expenses of the students, around $5 million (239 million afghanis), would be paid by the Afghan government, he said. The process of sending the students abroad will continue for two more years.

Speaking on the occasion, acting higher education minister, Mohammad Sarwar Danish, acknowledged Turkey's assistance to Afghanistan in the field of higher education over the past 80 years. Currently, 1,000 Afghans are studying in Turkey.

The students were happy with the opportunity of going abroad. "I thank the government for paving the ground for our higher studies and we will also try to serve the nation on return home," said Sadia, 17.