GAZA, 27 October — A Palestinian university professor has set an example for dedication. He opened an Internet site to give lectures to his students in physics when the Israeli authorities imposed a siege on Rafah and Khan Yunis in the Palestinian Authority territories.
Dr. Hazem Falah Sakeek, associated professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, resorted to the Internet to give lectures and establish contacts with his students when the Israeli blockade prevented them from attending the university.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, a sister publication of Arab News, Sakeek said he had faced a lot of problems due to the Israeli siege. “A large number of my students live in the besieged area in Gaza. I was thinking for a way to give lectures to them and found the Internet the best way,” he said.
Sakeek established the website titled “hazemsakeek.8m.com” about three months ago. The site has been very useful to his students as it contained what they required. “The students asked him questions after surfing the site. I have given special codes to each student so that nobody else can see the identity or grades of a student,” he explained.
Everyday the site receives more than 150 hits from his students as well as from others in the Arab world who are interested in physics. “This is a very encouraging sign,” he said. Many of his students have computers at their homes. Those who do not possess computer depend on the Internet cafes in various parts of Gaza.
Sakeek’s colleagues at the university are impressed by a work well done. They are thinking of adopting the same method to reach out to their students. “Many of my colleagues have expressed their interest in this method,” he said.
