CHAGHCHARAN - Thousands of university and high school students on Wednesday observed a one-day boycott of classes in the provincial capital of western Ghor province to protest the new entry test system.

More than 10,000 students including those from a teacher training college boycotted their classes for a day, the provincial education director, Akbari, said.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News 80 percent students in Ghor made their way to universities through the 2012 entry test, but they were concerned about the new quota system.

Prepared by ministries of higher education, education and labor and social affairs, the draft strategy for university entrance test is all set to be placed before the Cabinet for approval.

Under the new system, 12-grade graduates would be enrolled to universities on the basis of population and the number of students in each province.

The protesting students strongly condemned and rejected the new system, calling it a failed mechanism that ran counter to the constitution and international standards.

Calling for adherence to merit in university admissions and selection of students for scholarships, they alleged university admissions were being granted on ethnic and linguistic considerations.

They asked the Ministry of Higher Education to avoid non-academic conduct and urged the president and his cabinet to reject the draft. (Pajhwok)