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ESSTST: Exams « Canceled-until-further notice »

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Published

6 ans ago

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Let us set the time and place, place: The Higher School of Health Sciences and Techniques of Tunis (also known as ESSTST), Time: The morning of the first day on finals’ week, another term for the climax of two weeks of continuous stress, all-nighters, and frustration. Yet here we were, waiting in front of our assigned classes, cramming 17 courses’ worth in a mere 10 minutes, full of nervous energy and uncalled-for excitement. Minutes were passing quickly. At the time, we thought it was a blessing. Every minute of lateness on behalf of our proctors was an extra minute of last-minute cramming for us. But minutes kept on passing, and soon it was 8:30. The whispers started going around like wildfire: “I think the teachers are on a strike?”; “What? Since when? Why’d no one bother to tell us?”; “Someone said we won’t be sitting for any exams today”

And panic erupts.

Let me tell you something, spending days on end, not going out, not feeling fresh air on your face to the point of missing the sun, driving yourself to the point of sickness, all for the sake of getting good grades, is a thing most of us are guilty of. It comes with the major. And seeing all of that effort carelessly stepped on by the “authorities” can make you so mad, so desperate, so helpless, and it’s not a nice feeling.

We weren’t told much of anything, other than the fact that there won’t be any exams today (and probably the next few days) that we should go home and study for tomorrow’s exam, that our proctors were on strike and were refusing to do their duty of overseeing our exams, and that we will be contacted later if anything comes up, until then, stay home and study.

Now, this might make some people say “But you got some extra days of studying! So, what’s the problem? Some of us wish for that!” Let me tell you what’s the problem; Our third years have final projects that we hand out mid-March to the beginning of April, and they take a lot of work, effort, and on-site observations that are done in hospitals after the exams. So, this whole “canceled-until-further notice” situation was the last thing we needed. That and the fact that late exams benefit absolutely no one, but least of all the ever-ignored students.

That evening, our over-hardworking school delegates, who were torn trying to fit all ends and making sense of the situation, informed us of the inevitable: No exams on Friday and Saturday either. Everything will be postponed until next week. But nothing is for sure. So, we should stay home and study for our hypothetical exams. You know, just put your whole life on hold and keep studying for an exam you don’t know when you’ll be taking, because that’s just the way this works, we were powerless..

We were stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one end, there was the school administration who allegedly knew about the strike and didn’t inform the delegates, and who insists that they had a plan B consisting of letting its own workers be our proctors instead of the teachers. And on the other end, there was the strike planner: the syndicate of PMPs (Paramedical Professors) who claims that having administration workers supervise us is illegal, that it’s illegal for them to inform us of the strike, and that their demands are legitimate and worth this whole fuss. We were being played like puppets, coming and going to the whims of people who claimed they only wanted our best but weren’t acting like it.

On Friday, nothing changed. A group of students went to the university. We demanded answers, dates, anything to cling to, the student body was getting frustrated, it was all fun and games on the first day, but this looked like it might take longer than we thought, and we weren’t ready for that. But of course, we received nothing. We still have nothing but a promise of an emergency meeting on Monday that might or might not hold our salvation.

And so we wait, until further notice.

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Trump’s plan : A diplomatic shift or a humanitarian crisis ?

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Published

2 mois ago

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18 février 2025 [simplicity-save-for-later]

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What is going on ? What is happening ? Where are we ?

Are we moving towards a world where peace is an illusion , where the rights of the oppressed are systematically ignored and where forced displacement becomes an acceptable strategy ? The latest news from the Middle East paints a grim picture. Israel has openly backed Donald Trump’s plan and ordered its military to prepare for the mass departure of Palestinians from Gaza → a move that raises pressing humanitarian , legal and geopolitical concerns.

How does this go against international law and human rights ?

The Fourth Geneva Convention’s Article 49 forbids « individual or mass forcible transfers » of protected persons from occupied territories, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) upholds the right to freedom of movement and the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of one’s home. If carried out, the forced displacement of Palestinians would be a blatant violation of international law undermining the Palestinian people’s sovereignty and making their decades-long struggle pointless.

The decision is seen by many as part of a larger geopolitical plot to undermine Palestinian resistance , portraying it as a lost cause rather than a legitimate struggle for sovereignty and human rights and it has the potential to erase the sacrifices made by generations of Palestinians who have fought for self-determination.

What does Trump see? Is it political gain or strategic intentions ?

According to Trump , this approach is in line with his strategic goals and ideological position. His administration , which has its roots in his « America First » philosophy , has frequently supported close ties with Israel in the name of maintaining regional stability. He would contend that by dividing warring factions and eliminating conflict zones, moving Palestinians would open the door to lasting peace. Critics , however , believe that this is only a front for more fundamental political goals, such bolstering American power in the Middle East and winning over pro-Israel lobbyists before the next election.

– In addition, Trump has a history of making decisions on his own without holding meaningful diplomatic talks. Although he frames his plan as a peace initiative , its unilaterality and disdain for Palestinian opinions raise questions about whether it actually seeks to ease tensions or imposes a predetermined solution that benefits Israel and the United States.

Why did Egypt’s Sisi resist the plan ?

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi rejected any proposal that would involve the depopulation of Gaza , reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to Palestinian self-determination and territorial integrity. Egypt has historically played a crucial role in mediating Israeli-Palestinian tensions and has consistently opposed any solution that undermines Palestinian sovereignty. In a significant regional response to the Trump-backed plan , Sisi refused to meet with Trump if discussions included the exploitation of Palestinian territories.

→ This rejection demonstrates the growing uneasiness among Arab leaders who perceive Trump’s proposal as a grave danger to the stability of the region. Egypt , which is already dealing with economic difficulties and internal security issues , sees forced relocation as a trigger for additional instability that could lead to regional turmoil.

Global reactions : a divided international response Countries like France and Germany have reiterated their support for a two-state solution , warning that such a move could fuel extremism and destabilize the region. Europe and human rights organizations have strongly condemned the policy , calling it an outright violation of Palestinian sovereignty and an obstacle to peace. The wide range of reactions to the plan reflects deep global divisions.

While some U.S. politicians criticize Trump’s approach, others, especially those with strong pro-Israel affiliations , defend it as a strategic move to ensure regional stability.

Meanwhile, Arab countries remain at a crossroads, with some such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan cautiously expressing opposition to any forced displacement while others have yet to take a firm stance. The potential consequences of their decisions will have a significant impact on future diplomatic relations with Israel. On the other hand , Israel’s Western allies, especially the United States, have tried to frame the plan as a necessary security measure.

Conclusion: a precarious turning point !

Netanyahu’s support of Trump’s Gaza plan marks a dramatic change in Israeli policy with far-reaching effects on the region. Although it has the potential to change the geopolitical landscape, it is still unclear how this bold move will affect Palestinians and international relations in general. As reactions from around the world develop , it will be difficult to predict whether it will lead to a lasting peace or further entrench divisions and spark conflict. The fate of Palestine cannot be decided unilaterally and any attempt to do so runs the risk of escalating tensions rather than resolving them.

 

Written by roukaya berbeche

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