Sanctuary Denied!

It is common knowledge that a student, especially an academic one, seeks knowledge and solitude in libraries. Some would go as far as considering them as a sanctuary for students, a quiet and peaceful place away from all the noises of the campus. Therefore, academic institutions worldwide provide libraries as part of the campus. A place for the students to conduct research and study; a place that provides them with all the right materials and atmosphere; a place that is available with all its facilities 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. That is the case in most of the universities worldwide, but not here in Kuwait.

In the College of Basic Education the library is not available at all times; it, as well as the rest of the campus, closes its doors after working hours. As classes themselves continue till 8 pm one would think that the library would at least be available till that time. Unfortunately, the library closes its doors at 1:30 pm leaving the students to continue their remaining six and a half hours in the campus without a library. The students who happen to be at the library during closing hour are asked to leave with the doors slammed shut behind them. Some have expressed their disagreement with this policy. Many have said that they do not demand that the library is available for 24 hours, as it is the case in other countries, but they have a rather more reasonable demand and that is for it to be available for as long as they are in campus, for it is, as they have expressed, their right as students. It angers many of them to be denied what they feel is a given right. What is considered by students worldwide a sanctuary is denied to the students of the College of Basic Education after 1:30 pm.

By Noor Al-Ajmi