Students in the third year of the civil engineering department at the University of Bouira's Akli Mohand Oulhadj institution have maintained their strike, which began on January 6. The protesters claim that the academic results for the 2018/2019 year contain numerous irregularities and anomalies that have negatively impacted their overall averages. They cite issues such as the absence of displayed grades for certain fundamental modules and the consideration of semester exam scores instead of retake exam scores.
The protesters argue that these anomalies were reported to the department head multiple times, but no action was taken. As a result, only 85 out of 220 students in the third year will be admitted to master's classes this year. Despite attempts by the administration to reason with the strikers, they remain determined to continue their protest. The protesters have blocked access to the Faculty of Sciences and Applied Sciences on multiple occasions, affecting students in other departments.
On Wednesday, the protesters prevented students from accessing their faculty during the morning. The dean of the faculty, Mourad Nourine, responded to the allegations, stating that the faculty is not closed and that only the civil engineering department is experiencing issues. He claimed that a small group of students is trying to transgress the rules of the LMD system, seeking to eliminate debts and retake exams.
Nourine emphasized that the administration is open to dialogue and willing to address the students' demands if they are in line with the regulations. However, he noted that demands outside of the regulations will not be satisfied. The current situation has resulted in the civil engineering department being paralyzed, with no clear resolution in sight. The students' protest has entered its third week, with no signs of a compromise.
The LMD system, which is used in Algerian universities, is based on a set of rules and regulations that govern academic progression. The system aims to provide a standardized framework for evaluating student performance and progression. However, the protesters argue that the system has been applied unfairly in their case, resulting in unjust academic outcomes.
The university administration has faced criticism for its handling of the situation, with some accusing it of being inflexible and unresponsive to the students' concerns. The protesters have vowed to continue their strike until their demands are met, while the administration has reiterated its commitment to finding a solution within the framework of the regulations.
The situation at the University of Bouira highlights the challenges faced by Algerian universities in ensuring fairness and transparency in academic evaluations. The outcome of the protest and the negotiations between the administration and the students will be closely watched by the academic community and may have implications for the broader education sector in Algeria.
Key points
- Algerian university students protest academic irregularities, demand revised grades
- Only 85 out of 220 students in the third year will be admitted to master's classes this year
- The university administration has faced criticism for its handling of the situation
