Distance Learning Initiative for Gaza Students Jeopardised by Lack of Internet
(Arab World Press) - Palestinian students in the Gaza Strip face an unknown fate with the ongoing Israeli war in its sixth month, despite an initiative to help them resume their studies remotely.
In cooperation with several educational institutions, An-Najah University in the West Bank launched an initiative last month to provide the Strip’s university students with distance learning, but the lack of internet in the war-torn region has meant that their efforts have been in vain.
International organisations say that the vast majority of Gaza’s population of nearly 2.3 million Palestinians are now living as displaced people amidst catastrophic conditions since the outbreak of the war on October 7.
From a displacement camp in Rafah in southern Gaza, student Nesma al-Astal says, “We have stopped studying since the beginning of the war and are currently facing great difficulties in education, the most important of which is the lack of internet. An initiative recently emerged from our people in the West Bank to provide us with distance education, but there is no internet and no means to facilitate distance learning.”
Rima Hassan, another student living in a nearby tent, said, “I would have liked to continue my education, but the war came upon us in the Gaza Strip, disrupting the entire educational sector. We are currently unable to continue our education, as there are no educational institutions, universities, or schools for us to continue our studies.”
Hatem al-Assouli, Director of the Gaza University, explained that exceptional measures must be taken to help students overcome the harsh circumstances caused by the war.
He said, “In defiance of the difficulties, we must move forward, especially since some students have only a few hours [of studying credits] left to graduate, so a step like this is necessary.”
He added, “We, at the University of Gaza, extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr Mahmoud Abu Mouis, and to all universities in the northern governorates that provided an opportunity for university students to complete their academic journey.”