University students 'struggle to focus' during Ramadan

AMMAN — Universities have modified their lecture timetables to accommodate those fasting for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but some students say they still struggle to concentrate.

Yarmouk University Students Union President Ahmad Zghoul says the union has received several complaints about the university’s decision to start its summer course 10 days before the end of Ramadan, when Muslims fast during daylight hours.   

“Although there will only be 10 days left of Ramadan, many students said they cannot attend lectures while fasting,” he told The Jordan Times.

“Most professors and students do not give their all in lectures,” the third-year law student said, adding that there are high numbers of absences at lectures during Ramadan. 

“Students get tired walking from one lecture to another… This distracts them from focusing on their subjects, in addition to not having air conditioning, fans or curtains in most lecture halls,” he added.

However, Hashem Hadid, a fourth-year student at the University of Jordan (UJ), said students find it easier to fast and attend lectures because the university’s council of deans cut down lectures to only four days a week. 

“The duration of lectures in the summer course is usually one hour and a half. In Ramadan, the lecture length is an hour, which is convenient for most students,” Hadid told The Jordan Times.

The shorter hours on campus reduce the risk of campus violence, he argued, although he also said university facilities were a concern. 

“Most of us approved of the new four-day rule during summer, but some students think their lecture halls are not suitable for large numbers of students — especially in summer,” he said.

UJ's summer term starts on June 22.

At the Zarqa-based Hashemite University, morning lectures have been postponed until 8:30am for Ramadan, but students there also said that university buildings were not ideal for fasting students. 

“The university is located in a desert-like place. The weather is really hot here and we need air conditioning to concentrate on our lectures,” said Ibrahim Obeidat, an engineering student at the university. 

Not all facilities are air conditioned and although the university has promised to install air conditioning in more buildings, this could take two or three semesters, Obeidat told The Jordan Times.  

Students also face overcrowded buses without ventilation, he added.

Students at the Hashemite University said its two summer courses were scheduled with a 10-day break between them, to give students a short vacation over the summer. 

The first course started in mid-May, and the second will start after Eid Al Fitr.