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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Mosul University students are back in class, hopeful at the start of a new school year despite lacking some basic services. Those students who continued their studies in other universities are being compelled to return.
“It is estimated that over 30,000 students are back to classes,” said Ali Y. Baroodi, English instructor at the university, in a live video on his Twitter account on Sunday.
The university continued to operate during ISIS’ reign in the city, though they adapted the curriculum to suit their ideology.
The militant group also destroyed thousands of books and manuscripts, torching the library during the battle for Mosul. The campus was heavily damaged in the conflict to oust the terror group from its one-time stronghold.
The campus was liberated from ISIS in January 2017 and the full city was back under Iraqi control by July.
Students and instructors led efforts to clean up the campus and students returned to class later that year. The 2018-2019 academic year began last week.
“Students joined classes, full of hope,” Baroodi told Rudaw English in a voice full of joy.
The situation is generally good but some parts of the university are still demolished, he said.
The video shared by Baroodi shows the still-damaged front of the central library, though he said some parts of the building are still fine.
The “building of the college of arts is safe and sound. It was not bombed. Only some minor damage,” he said.
He believes that a vibrant university will bring “diversity, unity, and a lot of opportunities to the city.”
Some fear, however, that students are being pushed to return to the campus too soon.
Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education issued an order compelling the return of Mosul University students who fled the city in 2014 when when ISIS took over. Many young people took up their studies in Kurdistan Region universities, Sherwan al-Dubrdani, a KDP member of the Iraqi parliament, told Rudaw English.
He believes that Mosul University is not yet ready to welcome home all its students.
“There are no dormitories in Mosul. Mosul University has been badly destroyed due to airstrikes by international coalition and ISIS attacks,” he said, explaining that some 2,400 students will have no place to live because they were displaced to the Kurdistan Region along with their families.
Most of these students are Yezidis, Shabak Kurds, and Christians who currently study at Duhok University, according to Dubrdani.
An MP from Mosul, Dubrdani said their bloc in Iraqi parliament has requested the ministry’s decree be cancelled. They have gained the approval of the Speaker of the Parliament Mohammed al-Halbousi and are waiting for a final decision from the Council of Ministers.
Mosul University was established in 1967 and was considered one of the best universities in Iraq before the arrival of ISIS. It has eight colleges, teaching some 30,000 undergraduate students and 794 graduate students, according to the school's website.
“It is estimated that over 30,000 students are back to classes,” said Ali Y. Baroodi, English instructor at the university, in a live video on his Twitter account on Sunday.
Good Morning from Mosul University Campus. A new Academic year has just started. Live From Mosul. https://t.co/FFxxFXrcJS
— Ali Y. Al-Baroodi (@AliBaroodi) October 8, 2018
The university continued to operate during ISIS’ reign in the city, though they adapted the curriculum to suit their ideology.
The militant group also destroyed thousands of books and manuscripts, torching the library during the battle for Mosul. The campus was heavily damaged in the conflict to oust the terror group from its one-time stronghold.
The campus was liberated from ISIS in January 2017 and the full city was back under Iraqi control by July.
Students and instructors led efforts to clean up the campus and students returned to class later that year. The 2018-2019 academic year began last week.
“Students joined classes, full of hope,” Baroodi told Rudaw English in a voice full of joy.
The situation is generally good but some parts of the university are still demolished, he said.
The video shared by Baroodi shows the still-damaged front of the central library, though he said some parts of the building are still fine.
The “building of the college of arts is safe and sound. It was not bombed. Only some minor damage,” he said.
He believes that a vibrant university will bring “diversity, unity, and a lot of opportunities to the city.”
Some fear, however, that students are being pushed to return to the campus too soon.
Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education issued an order compelling the return of Mosul University students who fled the city in 2014 when when ISIS took over. Many young people took up their studies in Kurdistan Region universities, Sherwan al-Dubrdani, a KDP member of the Iraqi parliament, told Rudaw English.
He believes that Mosul University is not yet ready to welcome home all its students.
“There are no dormitories in Mosul. Mosul University has been badly destroyed due to airstrikes by international coalition and ISIS attacks,” he said, explaining that some 2,400 students will have no place to live because they were displaced to the Kurdistan Region along with their families.
Most of these students are Yezidis, Shabak Kurds, and Christians who currently study at Duhok University, according to Dubrdani.
An MP from Mosul, Dubrdani said their bloc in Iraqi parliament has requested the ministry’s decree be cancelled. They have gained the approval of the Speaker of the Parliament Mohammed al-Halbousi and are waiting for a final decision from the Council of Ministers.
Mosul University was established in 1967 and was considered one of the best universities in Iraq before the arrival of ISIS. It has eight colleges, teaching some 30,000 undergraduate students and 794 graduate students, according to the school's website.
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