Iraq's Universities Near Collapse!

Today's article is from The Chronicle of Higher Education. Hundreds of professors and students have been killed or kidnapped, hundreds more have fled, and those who remain face daily threats of violence

Saad Jawad does not like to take chances. The University of Baghdad political-science professor goes to the campus only once or twice a week, varying the days to throw off any would-be assassins. His courses are less than one-third full, and he often has to wait hours until students show up.

When a class does finally convene, he assigns enough work to keep students busy for as long as possible because he does not know when they may meet next.

"I used to attend the college five days a week, stay there, and mix with my students," Mr. Jawad says, by telephone. "Not anymore." He does most of his work and research at home over the Internet, and most of his private meetings with students are by phone. "Other than my short trips to the campus, I'm at home almost 24 hours a day, seven days a week," he says.

The enormous challenges Mr. Jawad faces every week are just one example of how fragile Iraq's higher-education system has become. Thousands of academics have fled the country, classes are frequently canceled, students often stay away for fear of attack, and research is at a standstill. To read the rest of this interesting article click here.