AMMAN — The
University of Jordan’s (UJ) decision to prevent guests from attending graduation
ceremonies, has caused upset among graduating students. The university’s
measures are in compliance with the
Ministry of Higher Education’s rules.
اضافة اعلان
In all, 13,000 students
are set to graduate this week from the University of Jordan, with no guests in
attendance.
“The ministry applies
the health protocol approved by the Ministry of Health, for the purpose of
maintaining the safety of students and their families,” said Mohammad Alawan
Al-Abadi, director of the Private Education Directorate at the Ministry of
Higher Education.
“The government adopts
the Sanad application in public and private institutions, and a rapid
COVID-19
examination has been adopted for all, to ensure that infection does not spread
in all educational institutions due to large gatherings of students and
teachers,” he said.
Families and friends
gathered outside the graduation venue in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the
students walking past.
Ruba Rayyan, a
second-year business student at the university, volunteered to help organize
the function, and noted a lack of zeal among the graduating class. “The
students didn't seem too excited at all because their parents weren't in the
audience and neither were their friends so there was definitely something
missing from the festivities,” Rayyan told
Jordan News.
Rayyan said many
students were expressing their wish for the ceremony to conclude due to the
situation as well as the constant reinforcement of protocols.
“We were really tough on
them with the COVID-19 protocols. We had to keep separating people, and we constantly
reminded them to keep their masks on,” she said. “The students weren't allowed
to sit with their friends either during the ceremony, they couldn't walk around
freely, they had to stay seated until it was time for them to walk the stage,”
Rayyan said.
Graduation ceremonies started
Sunday and will continue for eight more days. Hadeel Yaseen, an associate
professor at the university, noted that even family members who work at the university
were prohibited from attending the ceremonies.
Leen Al-Jadeed received
a high GPA and ranked among the top graduates in her class in the Faculty of
Foreign Languages. Although she was upset about the enforcement of the rules,
she agreed that rationally, it is the best option given the current situation
with COVID-19.
“I was a bit upset for a
moment when I knew that we were not allowed to bring any folks along and no
companions either. However, I understand the exceptional situation we are
living under right now with all the restrictions imposed and the safety
measures,” Jadeed said.
She said that the large number
of students graduating would effectively create new challenges if each student
were allowed guests, but for her, the fact that she was graduating was enough
for both her and her family.
“Of course, it would
have been much more enjoyable to have my parents, sisters, and close family beside
me on this happy occasion,” Jadeed said. “Nonetheless, I am graduating from one
of the oldest and greatest universities in Jordan, so I need to consider that
everything comes with a cost,” she added. She said once she gets home she will
celebrate with her family.
Dean of Student Affairs Muhannad
Al-Mubaidin, urges those graduating as well as their families, to follow the
rule and commit to them, and understand the current circumstances.
“If we didn't do this,
it wouldn't be one or two guests per person, the whole family would come, and
we cannot let that happen,” Mubaidin told
Jordan News. “We are not supposed to
compare ourselves to others because our situation is different,” he added. His
comments followed complaints that private educational institutions allowed some
guests to attend.
Some private
universities allowed families into the graduation ceremony, only because the number
of graduating students was considerably smaller. Mubaidin said that there is no
comparison between a private university with 500 graduating students, and the
University of Jordan with 13,000 graduating students.
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