For the training of foreign students and graduate students in Russian universities annually allocated 15,000 budget places. In 2019, 365 of them were given to applicants from Afghanistan. But there were more applications from this country - 6 thousand. This is 17 people per seat, despite the fact that many young Afghans could not register: not in all the provinces of the state where there is an ongoing war, the Internet is working steadily and electricity is being supplied.
“Therefore, they are going to submit documents personally and often this is associated with a risk to life,” said Vyacheslav Nekrasov, representative of Rossotrudnichestvo in Afghanistan, head of the Russian Center for Science and Culture (RCSC) in Kabul. “More than once, on the way from the provinces of Faryab, Baghlan, Ghazni and Kandahar, the shuttle buses stopped the Taliban *. And if young people found documents for an interview at the RCSC, their fate was sad. "
- Vyacheslav Nekrasov
- © Rossotrudnichestvo
Textbook "The Road to Russia"
Adela Nur, a teacher of Russian language courses opened in the Kairul district of Khairkhan, says that because of the influx of volunteers, there is now a problem with the lack of textbooks and teachers.
“There was a rapid surge of interest in the Russian language,” she says. - We have courses that are private, paid, but parents who want to bring the last money to teach children the language of the great northern neighbor are more than we can accept. In addition to the lack of textbooks, there was a shortage of highly qualified teachers. There was a big break when Afghans did not study in Russian universities. I would also like to receive new teaching methods: the language is alive, constantly changing. Approaches to linguistics are also changing. ”
Today, Afghan youth mostly learns Russian from a textbook with the symbolic name “Road to Russia”. In 2018, the Kabul RCSC, together with the Russian University of Peoples' Friendship (RUDN), released a special textbook “Russian for Afghans”, which consists of three parts from a CD.
Circulation sold instantly. The head of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Kabul, Vyacheslav Nekrasov, says that in 2019 it is planned to reprint a textbook that has become scarce.
"Soft power", frightening America
The other day in The Washington Post also showed interest in the RCSC and its leader Vyacheslav Nekrasov. The journalist who visited the center wrote that now, “after 18 years spent on the sidelines of the war waged by Washington, Moscow again declares itself in Afghanistan”.
As noted in the article, not the least part is that 6.5 thousand young Afghans all over the country are learning the Russian language, the RCRC and Nekrasov himself are playing. After all, the Russian Center for Science and Culture helps them to fulfill their hopes for free studies at Russian universities.
“The American did not understand that the matter is not in personalities, but in the very attractiveness of Russia for Afghans,” says RT graduate of the law faculty of Ivanovo State University Muhammad Yousef Shinwari. “The old men tell their grandchildren what assistance the Soviet Union provided to our poor country.” We, those who studied at Soviet universities, tell children about life, in which one should not be afraid of getting a bullet or being blown up. It's good that Russia is returning to us again. ”
“I want to learn to be strong”
News reports from the western province of Gore do not strike with diversity: “The Taliban militants were attacked at the checkpoints in Tevor district ... A civilian bus with passengers was blown up on a mine, 11 people were killed ... In the Tiora district, the Taliban set fire to the hospital and killed doctors and patients ... "
“I left my native Chagcharan in Kabul when I saw a man torn in half,” says RT Bahar, a beautiful young girl, whose name translates into Russian as Spring. - Then a suicide bomber detonated a bomb among civilians. It was the last straw for me. ”
The firstborn in the family of her parents died as a baby: a mortar mine exploded near the bed of the four-month Masuma. The Taliban killed her father's brother. Bahar dreams of becoming a politician and ending the war in Afghanistan.
“Why precisely Russia? This country is the foundation, the world keeps on it, the girl explains. “As a child, I saw the road that the Shuravi had built (Soviet citizens. - RT ) through the Salang Pass. My father said that only very strong people can make a path through impassable mountains. I already wanted to learn from them how to be strong. ”
In Kabul, Bahar graduated from a bachelor’s degree at a private university in the Russian Academy of Sciences. Tuition is $ 600 a year. At first, according to her, one of the elder brothers helped with money.
- © Rossotrudnichestvo
“Then I apologized that he could not give more money, his family was big, there were many children,” the girl continues. “I went to work at the office of the organization that calls for women to go to work under an international gender program.”
The average income of a working man in the capital, Kabul, in terms of local currency is $ 100-120. Women are paid much less - even those who are fighting in Afghanistan for gender equality.
“Bahar has a serious desire to continue his studies and continue it in Russia, because our state allocates quotas to Afghans for free higher education,” says Vyacheslav Nekrasov. “In a poor country, this is an expensive gift for young people like Bahar.” In 2019, 365 budget places for students and graduate students from Afghanistan were allocated in Russian universities. The applications from candidates who want to get an education in Russia are about 6 thousand received at the RCSC. These are 17 people per place. ”
Bahar smiles, but says quite seriously: “I really want to live and live in a world where people do not kill people. I want to learn from the Russians how to make my country as strong and peaceful as Russia. ”
Not only New York is chosen, but also Yakutsk
“If earlier we practically guaranteed admission to Russian universities for all excellent students, now we require them to choose the right specialty for their country, knowledge of the basics of the Russian language and culture, availability of recommendations, we are convinced of the awareness of the choice made,” says Vyacheslav Nekrasov.
According to him, the emphasis has shifted in the choice of professions. If two years ago most of the young people wanted to become lawyers, dentists or political scientists, now the main share is made up of those who want to be engineers, hydraulic engineers, builders, power engineers, computer scientists, agronomists.
In addition to free tuition, young Afghans have the opportunity to receive education in Russia and on a commercial basis. And there is already a certain trend: the children of rich parents began to choose not only New York and London, but also Russian cities.
“By the way, and not only Moscow,” says the head of the RCSC in Kabul. - In Afghanistan, there is good fame, for example, about a medical institute in Yakutsk, and many applicants tend to get there to study. They are going to study in dozens of Russian cities. Now there is a great demand for universities in the Crimea. ”
- © Rossotrudnichestvo
Step forward
In mid-April, a delegation of the Ministry of Higher Education of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (IRA) headed by Minister Najibulla Hvadzhey Omari visited Moscow. Afghans for the first time took part in the Moscow International Educational Salon.
“From 10 to 13 April in Moscow, we worked at the salon sites together with our Russian colleagues very fruitfully,” says adviser on international relations at the Minister of Higher Education IRA Gul-Rakhim Safi. - An important event took place: Afghanistan and Russia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in science, education and technological innovation. The agreement was signed at a high level - by the Minister of Higher Education of the IRA, Najibullah Khvadzhey Omari, and the head of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Mikhail Kotyukov.
In addition, according to the interlocutor of RT, meetings were held in Moscow with the leaders of leading Russian universities - RUDN, MADI, MGSU, MIIT and others. Kabul University has signed cooperation agreements with three Russian universities.
“Russian education is highly valued in Afghanistan,” says Gul-Rahim Safi. - His quality opens the door to the young man all over the world. My example is a confirmation. ”
Gul-Rakhim is a graduate of the chemistry department of the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute. In graduate school he studied at St. Petersburg State University. In the year of defending his thesis, 1992, a civil war broke out in Afghanistan.
“My teacher, Professor Kim Alexandrovich Burkov, advised me to stay in Russia,” Safi recalls. - I became the first foreigner working in this university on a regular basis. A few years later, my elder brother Abdul Matin, a gold medalist at the Russian Military Medical Academy, called me to Germany. I went to him, quickly learned another language, got German citizenship. My Petersburg diploma and my research qualifications were highly appreciated. ”
In Berlin, Gul-Rahim Safi was engaged in research in the field of biotechnology and at the same time worked in a public organization that provides assistance to Afghanistan. In 2015, he was called to his historic homeland: there is a catastrophic shortage of educated people in the country.
Dr. Safi, who holds a high post today, says almost the same words as the young girl Bahar who dreams of leaving for education in our country: “Russia is a foundation country and gives you fundamental knowledge for the rest of your life.”
* The Taliban movement, (DT, "Taliban") - the organization is recognized as terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of February 14, 2003.