December 05 , 2008

If You Don't Come To the university, the university comes to you

Young women and men sit in small groups in the shade of trees; they talk, laugh or bend over folders and books as they explain to each other the subject matter of their last lectures. A scene that could be found on any campus. Except that in the courtyard of Qubeibe nursing school it is not hundreds, but just about fifteen students waiting for their instructor to call them into their classrooms.

In total, there are 15 young women and 17 young men studying nursing here in their first or third semester at this little school in Qubeibe, about 40 minutes from Ramallah. The number of students has already doubled since Bethlehem University opened this branch of its Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences about a year ago.

The fact that the university came to the village is extremely important to its students who are mainly from Qubeibe or the surrounding villages.
“The journey to the university in Bethlehem or Ramallah would take me hours every day because of the checkpoints,” says Atef Murrar, a student from Beit Doqqo, a village near Qubeibe.  “With my Palestinian ID I’m not allowed to enter Jerusalem. And apart from that in the long run I couldn’t afford the money for daily travelling.”

For most female students, studying would be impossible if the nursing school were not in their neighbourhood, especially as many families don’t allow their daughter’s to study or live alone in another city.

Khawla Durgham from Qattana, a neighbouring village, is glad to have the opportunity: “In every lecture we learn something new, much more than at secondary school. My parents are very proud of me,” she says with a smile.

Not all the students, however, come from the nearby surroundings. Three of them have moved to Qubeibe from the northern borders of the West Bank in order to pursue their studies: Kadri and his Cousin Hani Kittanah from Tulkarem and Ibrahim Bisharat from Jenin.

There is a course in nursing at the University of Nablus, the largest city in the north, “but we couldn’t study there. Our families can’t afford the tuition fees. But here we get financial support and we’re very grateful for this,” Kadri says. “Of course we also work for it,” Ibrahim adds, pointing to his paint-stained trousers. Every week for one day the students take a shift working in the park and the gardens around the nursing home of the Salvatorian Sisters in Qubeibe. “Today we painted”, he explains.

The nursing school is directed by Salam El Issa who, for 15 years, taught nursing at Bethlehem University. The mother of three is happy with her students: “It’s really more than satisfying to watch how positively our students develop. You can tell this especially from these in their third semester,” she says.

The girls and boys who started their studies with sometimes meagre qualifications have grown into “self-confident young women and men. I’m always impressed with their enthusiasm and their discipline.”

Qubeibe student Wala’ Hoisha tells us about the introduction course she is taking with the other freshmen: “At the moment we are going through the history of medicine and nursing. I found it especially interesting to learn about medicine in ancient Egypt. And Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing, was very impressive. I find it so exciting that in addition to the practical skills we also learn how it developed over thousands of years.”

In her hand Wala’ holds an English novel. All students take intensive courses in English as many of them have weaknesses here before they start university. Usama Zahran, the school’s administrative assistant, proudly says: “During the summer semester an American professor held a course in anatomy. Although it was entirely held in English, the students had no difficulties to understand it.” At the end of the course eight out of fifteen students attained an A.

“One of the secrets of the success of our students is simply the fact that this school is very small and the atmosphere therefore is friendly and relaxed. The lecturers automatically develop a personal relationship to each student. Everyone can play a part and has to,” Zahran says.

Student Hani Kittanah agrees: “It’s good that the school is so small. The lecturer can respond to everyone as an individual.”

In the area north of Jerusalem, where Qubeibe is located, as in all of the West Bank, there is a huge demand for nurses. New hospitals are planned although the present ones are already lacking well-trained professionals.

Because of this, the nursing school plans to increase the number of students from the current 32 to about 120 in the following years.

Atef Murrar is already optimistic as he looks ahead: “Unlike many other people of my age, with the training I get in Qubeibe I don’t have to worry about my future job. I know that being a nurse sometimes is hard and stressful but to me it is worth it. It’s just so rewarding. I am looking forward to taking care of people’s health. ”