Ref: 106/2009
Date: 11 October 2009
Time: 13:30 GMT
PCHR: Universities Must Be Kept Out of Political Conflict
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is deeply concerned over a decision taken by the Ministry of Education in the Gaza Government to replace the presidents of al-Aqsa University in Gaza, and the consequences of the decision on at least 17,000 university students. PCHR believes that the decision violates the Palestinian Higher Education Law #11 of 1998, and pushes higher education institutions into the political conflict between the Hamas and Fatah movements.
The Minister of Education in the Gaza Government issued a decision on Wednesday, 07 October 2009, suspending Professor ‘Ali Zaidan Abu Zuhri, President of al-Aqsa University, allegedly for not implementing instructions and decisions taken by the Ministry and for traveling abroad without permission from the Attorney-General and the Ministry, in spite of an effective decision banning his travel, and problems in the universities, including the closure of the university and delaying the launching of the new semester since 06 September 2009. The Minister decided also to establish a council to administer the universities comprised of: Ph.D. Ayman Sobeh, Deputy President of al-Aqsa University for Academic Affairs; Ph.D. ‘Abdul Samee’ al-‘Arabeed, Deputy President of al-Aqsa University for Administrative and Financial Affairs; and Ph.D. Mohammed Radwan, Deputy President of al-Aqsa University for Information Technology Affairs. According to the decision, the council would be chaired by Sobeh. PCHR learnt that Sobeh did not accept this position, and he was substituted by Ph.D. Hussam ‘Edwan, professor of English.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Education in Ramallah ordered the closure of the university for an unspecified period and accused the Gaza Government of breaching the sanctity of an academic institution. It considered the dismissal of the president of the university and the establishment of an administrative council by the Gaza Government to be a takeover of the public university, indicating that appointing a president for a governmental university is of the authority of the President of the Palestinian National Authority, so the decision taken by the Gaza Government was irresponsible and illegal and would negatively affect the future of higher education in the Gaza Strip. The Ministry also held the Gaza Government fully responsible for any consequent damages and negative impacts and called on it to retract the decision and restore the previous situation to avoid any damages to higher education institutions and the services they provide to students in the Gaza Strip.
It is worth noting that presidents of higher education institutions, including governmental university, are nominated in accordance with Article 14b of the Palestinian Higher Education Law #11 of 1998, which prescribes that “a president and a consultative council of a governmental higher education institution are appointed by the President of the Palestinian National Authority based on nominations made by the Minister.”
In the meantime, hundreds of students headed to the Registration Department at the university to register for the first semester of 2009-2010, which would begin on Sunday, 18 October 2009 according to the decision taken by the newly appointed council of the university. Conflicting decisions of the two governments in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have confused staff members of the university. A number of staff members have abstained from assuming their positions and have been replaced. This situation particularly affects the Registry to which many students have gone to register for the new semester.
Al-Aqsa University was turned into a governmental university in 2000 after it had been known as the College of Education since 1992. The main campus of the university is in Gaza City. At least 14,000 students study in bachelor programs, and some 3,000 others study for diplomas. The university has there campuses: the main campus (al-Harazin) in Gaza City; the new campus in Khan Yunis; and the Faculty of Sport Education and the Spanish Institute in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City.
In light of the above, PCHR calls for:
1) Canceling the decision taken by the Minister of Education in the Gaza Government suspending the president of al-Aqsa University, as the university is a government one and only the President of the Palestinian National Authority has the power to appoint or dismiss it president.
2) Restoring the situation that preceded 07 October 2009 to allow the beginning of the new semester normally.
3) Sparing higher education institutions the consequences of the ongoing political conflict in the Palestinian society, and making efforts to develop them to improve their services for students.
