Jordan- Medical students from Yemen, Libya left in limbo 

(MENAFN - Jordan Times) Although the first academic semester started this week, no decision has yet been announced on whether Jordanians studying medicine in Yemen and Libya will be accepted at local universities, leaving hundreds of students uncertain about their future.

"I am worried and do not know what to do I cannot go back to Libya, and I cannot afford university fees in another country as I was studying there as part of cultural exchange programme between Jordan and Libya," said Ayman Sheyyab, a medical student.

"We only hear promises from the ministry [Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research]. We want a clear cut answer," he told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday.

"Even if the ministry allows medical students to enrol in the parallel programme, I personally cannot afford it as I used to pay nothing in Libya," the Irbid resident said.

Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Wajih Owais said the ministry sent a list of the students' names to the prime ministry last month.

"The issue might be tackled today [Tuesday] at the Cabinet meeting," he noted.

Approximately 988 Jordanians who were pursuing their higher education in Yemen and more than 50 who were studying in Libya cannot return to these two countries due to the current situation and are awaiting the government's decision regarding their admission to the Kingdom's public universities.

More than 700 of the total are studying medicine.

Ministry officials had earlier said that a decision regarding these students will be announced by September 15.

Four public universities in the country teach medical courses: the University of Jordan, the Jordan University of Science and Technology, Mutah University and the Hashemite University.