Students and staff work to bring Islamic University of Gaza back to life
The Islamic University of Gaza has been working tirelessly for years to provide the best possible academic environment for its students amidst the ongoing destruction brought about by Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. The university, which was once one of the leading public universities in the Palestinian enclave, is facing significant challenges due to the siege on Gaza and Israeli air attacks.
Before the war, the Islamic University of Gaza was a hub for higher education, offering courses in fields such as medicine, health sciences, engineering, and more. However, Israel’s crippling hold on Gaza has posed huge challenges in teaching these disciplines, particularly those requiring practical training like medicine, health sciences, and engineering.
In October 2023, the university lost significant parts of its infrastructure, including laboratories and equipment, when massive Israeli bombing began. The destruction of most academic buildings, classrooms, educational and research laboratories, libraries, and training clinics has left students struggling to reach the campus or access necessary resources.
Despite these challenges, students have continued to work hard to provide a practical education for their peers. Yassin al-Nounou, the university’s laboratory coordinator, says that equipment arrived just days before the war began but was destroyed when Israel launched its genocidal attack on Gaza. “We had plans to use anatomy models and educational skeletons to strengthen our students’ skills in real-world settings,” he said.
The destruction of the main campus has forced the university to rely heavily on alternative solutions, including digital simulations and recorded experiments for teaching medical microbiology, biochemistry, haematology, molecular diagnostics, medical optics laboratories, and physical therapy training. However, these temporary fixes cannot replace the real-life experience that students need to develop their practical skills.
The war also saw a significant loss of specialized equipment and facilities, such as those used in medicine and sciences. The Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education has assessed that most higher education institutions in Gaza sustained significant damage since 2023, with hundreds of laboratories and facilities lost their ability to operate.
To address this challenge, the university is working on reintroducing teaching by coordinating with healthcare centers, hospitals, and local institutions to provide students with a real-life setting for theoretical knowledge. However, these measures are still temporary solutions that lack fully equipped laboratories needed to develop practical skills.
The Islamic University of Gaza has not surrendered its vision of providing students in Gaza with the best possible education. The university graduates will also be an essential part of the workforce needed to help Gaza recover and rebuild after nearly three years of genocidal war.
Despite these challenges, students have shown resilience and determination in continuing their studies despite the difficulties they face. Deema Muhaisen, a medical student who lost her laboratory due to the destruction, has seen significant changes since the university’s laboratories were destroyed. “I no longer have a fixed place to study,” she said. “But I’ve been able to help doctors in hospitals and gain practical experience by volunteering at emergency departments and surgery units.”
The Islamic University of Gaza is still working towards rebuilding its facilities and providing students with the necessary resources to develop their practical skills. The university has established five branches and educational facilities across different parts of the Gaza Strip, which should make it easier for students scattered across Gaza to continue their studies.
However, planning for reconstruction is at a theoretical stage due to Israel’s siege on Gaza and difficulties in accessing medical equipment, construction materials, and spare parts. Despite these challenges, the university remains committed to providing its students with an education that prepares them for the future generation of doctors and professionals needed to help Gaza recover and rebuild.
In conclusion, the Islamic University of Gaza is facing significant challenges due to Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza but continues to work towards rebuilding its facilities and providing students with a practical education. The university remains committed to investing in education as an investment in recovery and preserving people’s ability to fix what was destroyed.
Based on reporting from Al Jazeera.
Read original source
