By Jamal Adel.
Beida, 11 May 2015:
Benghazi University says that it . . .[restrict]is looking to restart classes in late July, after Ramadan, but will decide on the date nearer the time.
The university was forced to close a year ago when General Khalifa Hafter launched his Dignity Operation to clear Ansar Al-Sharia and its allies out of the city. Students have not been able to study or take exams since then.
For the past year, the main Garyounis campus has been controlled by Ansar with the result that it has been heavily bombed and shelled by Dignity and other Libyan National Army (LNA) forces. Ansar were finally dislodged only a couple of weeks ago.
The state of the campus is thought not to be as badly damaged as suggested by Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni in Moscow last month when he said it would have to be rebuilt form scratch. The administration and faculty of arts buildings are in ruins but other buildings are either untouched or easily repairable. The university also has other facilities in the city.
The university says that it will announce the dates for exams as soon as the arrangements can be made. It has also told students to contact their colleges and faculties about the availability of study materials and books. The university further says that it is fully aware of the needs of its students who have been displaced or otherwise affected by the fighting and that it is committed to their welfare.
Originally founded in Benghazi as the University of Libya in 1955, it became the University of Benghazi in 1973 when it and the University fo Tripoli became separate institutions, had its name changed by Qaddafi to Gharyounis University, and then reverting to its earlier name during the revolution.
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