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Ref: 164/2005

Date: 19 December 2005

PCHR Organizes a Workshop on “The Right to Higher Education: Role of the Student Body in Supporting and Protecting the Academic Process in Al-Azhar University in Gaza.”

The student Body criticizes the security chaos on campus, and calls for putting an end to outside intervention in university affairs. The students call for adopting the proportional system in student council elections, equality under university law, and forming a popular forum to support Al-Azhar University.

On Monday, 19 December 2005, PCHR’s Economic, Cultural, and Social Rights Unit (ECS) organized a workshop on “The Right to Higher Education: Role of the Student Body in Supporting and Protecting the Academic Process in Al-Azhar University in Gaza.” Representatives of Al-Azhar University student parties and independents attended the workshop.

ESC researcher, Mr. Khalil Shaheen, started the workshop by welcoming the guests, and stating that the workshop is organized within the framework of the Center’s efforts to protect citizens’ right to the best possible education, especially higher education. In addition, he pointed that the workshop aims to highlight the role of the student body in protecting the academic process in Al-Azhar University. This was essential, he pointed, in light of developments that have suspended work at the university. Mr. Shaheen stressed that the workshop is an opportunity to participate in protecting and supporting an important academic institution, which has the largest student body of all higher education institutions in the Gaza Strip.

Mr. Shaheen stressed that the workshop falls within the framework of advancing academic freedom, respecting academics in Al-Azhar University, and providing a better academic atmosphere at the university. He added that it is very important for the university’s student body to state their vision and discuss the university’s problems. This, he stated, was very important since students are the most affected victims by these problems that put their educational and professional future in jeopardy.

The representatives of different student blocs presented their viewpoints on the academic process at the university. They welcomed the resumption of teaching at the university after a month’s layoff, and the formation of a new board of trustees for the university. In addition, they discussed the problems and obstacles facing the university’s students. These included outside intervention in university affairs by security forces, security chaos inside the campus, spread of weapons in and around the university, deteriorating educational levels, lack of extra-curricular activities, attacks on university teachers, and the lack of implementing university laws properly.

At the end of the workshop, the students submitted a number of recommendations to advance the academic process in Al-Azhar:

–         Determine the date for student council elections using the proportional system, which guarantees wider student participation;

–         Immediate end to the intervention of security forces into university affairs, and taking steps to put an end to carrying arms inside the campus;

–         The Palestinian National Authority must fulfill its responsibility in imposing the rule of law, and apprehending and punishing all perpetrators of previous attacks on university staff;

–         The university Board of Trustees and President must implement university laws, especially the academic system, in a fair and impartial way;

–         Student blocs should put aside their differences and coordinate with the university’s administration, especially the deanship for student affairs, in order to develop the university-student relationship;

–         University management should promote extra-curricular activities, and develop academic performance in all specialties;

–         PCHR, other civil society institutions, and community leaders should take the initiative and form a popular forum to support Al-Azhar University and its academic process.

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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email: pchr@pchrgaza.org      website: www.pchrgaza.org