Mohammed Hashas - AlJazeeraTalk - Oujda, Morocco
 The Moroccan University is in March but not in a march. Yesterday morning I had something to do at the university, at the School of Humanities, at 8.30 am. What I had in mind is that classes for the undergraduates have already started or at least were supposed to start that day for the second semester, Spring semester. Lo!
Exams for the first semester seem to have taken about two months, not like the classes which did not take much! Officially, university studies start in the 20s of September, but this year was different: Ramadan, the sacred month, coincided with the start of the academic year, so students chose to stay home, and enjoy the togetherness atmosphere, with nice meals!! After Ramadan, the students had to see their families. So, they found themselves taking more time at home than at the university, where they were supposed to be. After few weeks, which did not make three complete months in all, the students had to ‘boycott’ classes for few days before exams; they needed time for concentration, for revision – revision of what? They barely started!!
 With the new educational system, exams are taking more time, which nobody likes, neither the teachers nor the students. The teachers’ work is doubled, if not tripled, and the students find it difficult to adapt to the many classes and exams they have to attend to. That is one of the major reasons that resulted in today’s surprising situation. That is the case in my university. I was not surprised when a friend of mine called me from Fes university saying that they are still taking the first semester exams this month, March.
On 25 February 2005, under the supervision of professor Jim Long, an American guest lecturer, a group of graduate students volunteered to start working on a Writing Lab (pic.1). The group is aware of the problems students on all levels still encounter in their curriculum, so the Writing Lab has come to enhance group work to revive creativity spirit and encourage students to write with more professionalism and most importantly with love. I was not surprised during the meeting when I heard some of the volunteers saying that maybe nobody will consult the Writing Lab because students now hardly care for studies and writing. I am afraid to say that the volunteer’s words are not uttered in vacuum; his words came out because he could see that the university atmosphere in March really needs a march, a move, or some shaking...!
I always like to end my observations with optimistic touches: the university has never been void of good students; the Writing Lab might be an example! The English Club (pic.2, 2005) and Creative Writing Workshop (pic.3, 2007) might also be illustrative examples. They all could give a pretty good push forward to the students interested in communication, writing and research. They could enhance a march!
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