Ordeal of a different kind for Libyans

FOUR months after leaving their war-torn country, 14 Libyan students were among thousands of Leaving Certificate students who sat the first English paper.

The students attended the International School of the Martyrs in Tripoli, the only institute outside Ireland that has students taking the Leaving Certificate. In all, the school had 66 students preparing to sit the Leaving Certificate.

As a result of the highly unstable situation in the country the 14 students were forced to quit school as it became too dangerous to attend. They were able to travel here after securing EU passports.

Getting out of the country proved a difficult feat with the no-fly zone still in place. The students had to travel to Tunisia then get a boat to Egypt then fly to England, before finally reaching Cork.

One of the 14, Antonella Maffimi, said: “It was a very frightening experience. There were half a million Egyptians in the airport trying to flee the country. I had to push my way through with the one bag I had packed my life into.”

She is one of nine of the Libyan students sitting their examinations at Coláiste Choilm in Ballincollig, Cork, where most of them have been taking classes since Easter. The other five students here are taking their exams in Dublin and Limerick.

Fathi Ahmed Benamer, also doing exams at Coláiste Choilm, said the group feels very lucky.

“Our other classmates may never get the opportunity to do the Leaving Certificate. We wish they were here with us,” he said.

Despite missing the deadline to apply for college through the CAO, all nine students have applied to go to university in England and one has applied for the University of America in Dubai where she hopes to complete a course in politics.

“Coming from Libya I have seen how important it is for young people with positive views to be involved. I hope to help increase the stature of women in Libyan politics,” said Sara Dougman.

The students said they felt sad and guilty to have left their families behind but they were left with no other viable alternative.

The four students from Tripoli can have regular phone contact with their families in Libya but it is more difficult for students from outside the capital as access to phone and internet is prohibited. One of the students said he can only contact his family when his father travels to the capital and rings him from there.

Despite missing their families, they have been delighted with the Irish hospitality they have been experiencing.

James Cunningham, a past pupil of the Ballincollig school who worked at the school in Tripoli for six years until trouble escalated, organised the students’ transfer with Coláiste Choilm principal Pat Kinsella. Both organised host families, to provide them with Arabic classes and to make the culture change as easy as possible.