A Quarantine Reading List: Escapist Nonfiction from the Arab World
Readers who need a break from news of Covid-19 and chronicles of disease may find welcome relief in these books from the Middle East and North Africa.
Arab Universities Struggle With Final Exams and Reopening Decisions
The Covid-19 pandemic forced Arab universities to hastily shift classes online–or in some cases shut down completely. Now they need to assess learning and decide how to safely re-open.
The Shift to Online Education in the Arab World Is Intensifying Inequality
The attempted shift to online learning during the novel coronavirus pandemic is increasing inequality in access to education. In some countries, professors and students are suggesting online education be halted altogether.
Relief Organizations Help Artists Affected by Covid-19
Funding groups in the Arab world and elsewhere are offering assistance to artists and other creative workers who face difficulties because of the Covid-19 shutdowns.
A Guide to Top Platforms for Online Courses
Al-Fanar Media explores some of the major Arabic and non-Arabic online learning platforms that offer university-level courses at low cost or free.
Coronavirus School Closings Around the World Will Hit Girls the Hardest
Humanitarian groups warn of the potential for increased drop-out rates among adolescent girls, putting them at greater risk of sexual exploitation and early marriage.
Public Health Experts Are Often Missing From Arab World’s Coronavirus Battle
Public health researchers in the wealthier Arab countries say they’ve been working with governments for months. But the region’s poorest, most conflict-torn countries lack experts.
A New Way to Help Refugees Keep Their Health Records Available
A project in Lebanon documents refugees’ health data so that they can eventually get better medical care. But a lack of health insurance often prevents them from getting care.
Lebanon’s Financial Crisis Takes a Toll on Refugee Students
Syrian refugee students in Lebanon face an even more precarious future than they have in the past as the country’s economic crisis eats away at scholarships and jobs.
The Value of Creativity in the Mediterranean Cauldron
An Italian professor suggests that those living in the Mediterranean region take their natural tendency toward creativity as a philosophy and way of life and invest in it even more.
