Jalal Al-Shar'abi
Yemen Times
There has not perhaps been a more complicated problem for the city of Sana'a than that of Water and Sanitation. A problem that has been a stumbling block on the way of strong lasting road infrastructure.
People used to rumor that only foreign hands can rid the city of this problem and construct durable roads. However, the project of the western al-Akamah sewage network changed the token in favor of local hands.
The whole area, which was characterized by garbage here and there and sewage running on the asphalt, has been converted into a cleaner and exemplary one. This great achievement is mostly attributed to al-Rihab Engineering and Contractors Company which won the tender to do the repair-work. The company initiated its project amid rumors that all its efforts would be a failure. However, the great expertise the company is based on the changing of rumors and doubts to words of praise.
Establishing a new sewage net-work in Yemen is no easy task. It requires patience, efforts and experience. Among the difficulties complicating this issue is the large number of cesspools and the random positions of electricity and telephone cables. This, in addition to the crowd of the area helped complicate the problem. Residents of the area are all thankful for the company that allows them to enjoy the fresh air that they have been deprived of for a long time. Shopkeepers along the street expressed delight saying that their sales have increased because many people came to settle in the area. Many people had abandoned the area in order to settle elsewhere because of the unhealthy surroundings caused by the sewage and garbage. Many newspapers looked down upon the company anticipating its failure. But now it has become clear that the company deserves all praise and thanks for this achievement.
The project was initiated in July 1999 and was finalized in December 2000. The deadline for the assigned period was 18 months. In following reports we will be dealing with the sewage and water problem which the Al-Rihab company has shouldered the responsibility of to rid the area.
"The project gave priority to the Al-Akamah area, despite the many difficulties created by the large number of cesspools, random networks, low cables of electricity and telephone, and people's using cesspools to get rid of the stagnant rain water, etc.," said Muaied Ismael, engineer of western Al-Akamah sewage network. What added insult to injury is that some sewers and other material were stolen by people during the night, he added. He attributed the success of the project to the qualified and expert cadre who carried out the work and to the high quality of the construction material which were all tested to make sure of their quality. About the same project Majed Agouz, the Consultant Company's supervisor of the site said " We made a comprehensive plan for all of Sana'a and presented a report to the authorities concerned. The bid was won by Al-Rihab Company. The report highlighted the bad situation of the city's sanitation system, especially in the Al-Akamah and Hayel street." "I wondered how people accepted the fact that drinking water and sewage sewers were very close to one another," he exclaimed, adding that networking is the best way to avoid contamination. Thanking engineer Essam Makki for solving difficulties, he said the project was finished 4 months ahead of the assigned period. As for the asphalting process, he expected it to be finished during the middle of this month. Khaled Mohammed Farhan, quantity and production engineer at Al-Rehab Company said that the project had been completed, except asphalting the streets leading upto the Vice President's house and its sub-streets. Abdulqawi Abdullah Al-Muhaya, engineer in charge of the Vice President's street complained about the random placement of telephone cables and water pipes. However, he said that work was going on properly.
As far as the inhabitants of the area are concerned, their happiness is boundless. "We did not expect such speed in the completion of the project," said Abdulqader Abdullah, a resident of the area. "We have long dreamt of clean air to breathe," he added. Cosmetics shopkeeper Waleed Al-Zaghrory said the number of clients had increased, especially after the street was asphalted.
Director of the Sana'a, Taiz, Mukalla and Hodeidah Sewage Project, engineer Essam Makki said the Yemeni contractor proved that he was not less qualified than the foreigner, indicting that the project was accomplished before the assigned period and at less cost. However, he added that the project was extended for 6 months after other new areas in Assiteen Street were included in the same project. He said that the project got a US$ 60 million loan from the Arab Fund and that the first phase of the project would be initiated in Swad Hunaish, Assafyah and Assabaeen areas.
Will work in the other areas to be as successful as Al-Akamah? Let's hope so!

Report by: YT Sanaa University Correspondent
Nabil Al-Kumaim
The Faculty of Languages was first established in 1997 at Sana'a University. It is considered the first faculty in Yemen specialized in teaching foreign languages in Yemen. Language Faculty consist of 5 departments: English, Arabic & Tradition, German, French and Arabic Department for foreigners learning the Arabic language.
It also provides the opportunity to obtain M. A. Degree in English and Arabic & Translation. Unfortunately, there are many problems and obstacles that face the students and the staff of the faculty. Although, this year will witness graduation of the first batch of the faculty's students, they have no building of their own. They didn't ever see anything called a languages lab.
In this report we will spotlight some issues that concern the Faculty of Languages, Sana'a University.

At first we interviewed several students from all departments and levels:

Hanan M., Salmaa,
and Bushra Al-Ashmory
English Department, level 4.
Currently, we are studying in the halls of the Faculty of Law. We are like the homeless. We organized a strike last year and demanded a separate building for our department, but nobody listened to our demand.

Q: What about the level of professors who taught you during the past 4 years?
A: You can't generalize on all of them. Some professors are excellent in manner and method, others they just come to flirt with girl students." "I can't believe that although we are now in the final year, we have not till now practiced using the language laboratory.

Ammar Al-Sharafi
English Department Level 3
I am representative of General Union of Yemeni student in the Languages Faculty but we have no permanent office because the college itself does not have its own building. So this must be given the top priority. It's our duty in the faculty of languages to solve students' problems but now its out of our hands.

Nassar Al-Mahfady and
Nouraddin Taqiaddin
English Department, Level 1
Q: Are you satisfied with your text books?
A: As you know the English language is developing every day. But our present text books don't meet our needs. Some esteemed teachers exert personal efforts to prescribe something which is different from our curriculum. Our grammar topics are a kind of a mixture and not clear to us.

Najla'a M. Hanadi and N. Al-Ashwal
English Dep. Level 1
Q: Do you have enough well qualified teachers? And what are the facilities you need?
A: Now, we are in the new millennium and must keep pace with the world. The college must be equipped with modern apparatuses. But unfortunately there is nothing we are studying differently than those who studied in the 60's. Every teacher (Yemeni, Iraqi and Indian) has his way and style, but some of us prefer Yemeni, others prefer Iraqi or Indian.
We suffer from intervention and corruption, not only in our faculty but everywhere in Yemen. For instance when we passed placement test we were just 160 students. After the second placement test we became 200 students, but after some interventions the number soared to 253.

Akram Fakhry and Samar Al-Absi
French Department Level 3
Our main problems in the French Dep are:
1. Shortage in well qualified teachers.
2. Auditoriums are not enough.
3. Our syllabus in the 3rd level is always changed, so we can't adapt ourselves to these changes. Besides, there is no sense of responsibility toward us. Administration and staff must improve our textbooks to meet our ambitions.

Q: Where do you propose to work?
A: We are looking forward to working in the tourism sector or in foreign companies.

Moh'd Shamms, Yehia Al-Surabi and Abdurazaq Saeed
German Department, Level 4
Q: What are the problems you faced from the first year?
A: German language is rather a new one in our curriculum. So it needs to be given intensive care and seminars and the subject needs to be organized. Unfortunately there is an inadequacy of sessions and seminars due to the scarcity of funding for these activities. Nevertheless, the German department organized last term a celebration sponsored by the Ambassador of Germany to Yemen.

Q: How do you foresee your future especially as you are the first group of graduates from German department in Yemen?
A: We think we have great job opportunities because we are the first batch. But I don't think this will be the case for our colleagues in coming years. The number of future graduates may exceed the demand. The solution could be to decrease the number of students enrolled at the department for the coming years. We are 26 student now in the 4th year, 22 males and 4 females, but in the first level there are more.

Nabil Al-Masmary
Arabic and Translation Dep. Level 1
When I joined this college I noticed that there were enough teachers but in the absence of plans and rules governing their work, every teacher follows his own schedule irrespective of our needs.

Q: Do you feel optimistic about your future prospects in this Department?
A: Personally, I am frustrated because I chose this department to be a translator/interpreter, not to learn dead poetry. When I registered here I thought I would find something different, and something better.

Then, we interviewed some teachers in the faculty:

Dr. B. T. Desai (Indian)
Professor of English
"There are no big differences between Yemeni and Indian students except in pupils' categories and their mood, I can agree with you there is a decline in Seminars but last term we held one entitled "18th Century's Drama"Dr. R. K Malik (Indian)
Ph.D. in Linguistics
Every thing in the faculty is okay, but there is neglect regarding language labs. If you want to be fluent in any language you must possess all means and equipment.

Saleh A. Saif (Yemeni)
I have much of experience in teaching ways and can tell you that undoubtedly we need a laboratory because there is a difference between Arabic language and European languages. We heard that there are language labs in our faculty but it has disappeared."Dr. Yusra
Ph.D. in Linguistics and Translation (Baghdad)
The problem here is that in this tentative building you can't find a place to rest during intervals. There is no staff room to meet, for colleagues to solve problems and exchange information. Language labs are essential but they claim there is no space for it.

Mr. Moh'd Naif
(M. A. From USA in ELT in 1998)
Q: How do you evaluate Education in Yemen compared to that in USA?
A: The difference in attitude of students, education system and availability of qualified experts. We must offer patronage to students to help them communicate with others to improve their skills. Personally I achieved my fluency through my communication with others in Britain, France and USA.

Dr. Abdulamir Al-Ward
Ph.D. in Semantics and Syntax, Iraq
Q: What is the importance of languages in a nation's life?
A: We are in a global village, today everybody must learn more than one language. In ancient history the Ottomans were given the salary according to number of language they knew

Dr. Sharma, (Indian)
Head of the English Department
I have been 12 years in Yemen and I can say that the education in Yemen is developing and some more attention should be paid.

Q: Some pupils complain about the current syllabus. Do you intend to change anything?
A: We are intending to review and revise the curriculum after 4 years. We now have a clear vision about the amendments that will be made.

Q: Tell us abut your policies and programs in the faculty.
A: You know, we are now in the Information Age. So we must follow up on these changes. Accordingly, we decided to be the first Department in Sana'a University which will observe and follow up the levels of the students, I mean their activities, marks, behavior and make monthly evaluations for every student.

Q: What do you think about this statement: "English language was founded in Britain, developed in USA and died in India"?
A: English language never died. On the contrary it became more popular and lovely in India and improved there.

Ahlam Al-Gubari
"Registry office"Q: What's the reason behind increasing the number of girl students?
A: Girls want the languages more than boys because they have time to study at home and improve their levels. There is no appreciation for women here. On the contrary everyone fights against us. They don't want women to be appointed to significant posts.

Mohammed Fateh
College General Secretary
Q: What is the reason behind the increase in the number of students after the placement tests?
A: There are orders from high ranking officials to accept some students who have a low percentage. Now we have 1775 students in the University.

Dr. Abdurida Ali, (Iraq)
Deputy of Dean
M. A. From Egypt in "Modern literature and its criticism in Arabic" and author of 10 books about Arab literature
Q: What's about the level of teachers here?
A: In the faculty of languages without exaggeration, there are some of the best teachers in the Arab world.

Q: But some students complain that there is shortage in qualified teachers.
A: You know some students always grumble. Before 1997, we put the materials associated with two professors from Egypt:
1.Dr. Izaddin Ismaeel from Ain Shams University.
2.Dr. Oni Abdulrauf, The Dean of the Language Faculty in Ain Shams University, as well as several professors from Education and Art Faculties to avoid any mix between our textbooks and theirs.

Q: We heard that you submitted your resignation 3 times, why?
A: Because I am so tired and want some rest.

Q: How do you account for the increasing number of Iraqi teachers in the faculty?
A: As you know, after the Gulf War the situation in Iraq became miserable. So many Professors and teachers immigrated worldwide. So you can find many teachers here and there.

Q: What is the most formidable problem that confronted you?
A: Before 1997 we were " Languages Center". So when we became an independent and separate college. We failed to find independent space. Now we are in the Faculty of Law. Some colleges refuse to host us in spite of their vacant halls.
Last year a female engineer designed buildings for the faculty and presented the plan to Mr. Mohammed Al-Maqaleh. He was very helpful and approved it, Inshaa Allah the financial requirements of our campus will be met in next year's budget 2001/2002.

Q: Are you optimistic about the future of the first batch of the faculty?
A: Surely, we will supply the Yemeni society with excellent and intellectual manpower.

Q: Students of the German Department told us that they'll need refresher courses after their graduation. What do you say about this?
A: There are three scholarship for the German Department, but in fact we brought native speaking teachers for the German Department and they are well qualified. Besides, every year the three students who score top positions have a chance to get scholarship to Germany to study for a M. A. These scholarships are presented by Germany and the faculty just buys the tickets. But we can't pay the departure costs.

Q: What about French Department?
A: We have no agreements with the French Embassy because they concern the Faculty of Arts. When we wanted their help they wanted to manage us and it failed.

Q: What abut the teaching of the new languages that will be added in the faculty?
A: We are planning to add new language such as Persian, Turkish, Italian and Hebrew.
In regard to the Italian language it will be started next year as a separate department.

Finally we interviewed the Dean of Faculty of Languages, Dr. Moh'd Daoud

Q: Do you think the present curriculum meets students' needs?
A: Persons who draw up and choose the courses are all aliens to our nation because these materials are 50 years away from the modern curriculum.
"Our budget doesn't equal expenses of even one section in other colleges"
Q: where are the language labs you bought before?
A: Our main concern is to have a building for the faculty. When we bought language labs last year from Britain for 40,000 pounds, we couldn't find enough space for it. So it is now stored in the Faculty of Arts.

Q: We notice that during the pass 4 years there is shortage in seminars. Why does that happen?
A: In the Faculty of Languages, we have the duty to supply all colleges in Sana'a University with language teachers. So we have no time to hold seminars or debates. In addition there is no finance for such things, frankly our budget for the 5 sections doesn't equal budget of one section in the science faculties.

Q: How do you choose the demonstrators in your faculty?
A: A student who gets the first position will be appointed in his department, if he declines we choose the second. But sometimes we need several demonstrators. So we advertise the press and the media.

Opinions About YEMEN TIMES
"Thank you Yemen Times for supplying us with information about stories, poetry, Yemeni environment, queen Sheeba and Arwa and tourist sites.''
-Dr. M. Daoud, the dean.

"Your propaganda campaigns in the Faculty of Languages proved that there is still someone who thinks seriously to encourage pupils to read. Your special price was happy news not only to the students but also for me."-Dr. Yusra
"I have been following the Yemen Times since 1992 and I consider it a source of enlightenment.''
-Dr. Saleh A.
"Yemen Times helped me in the beginning of my study and gave me more vocabulary, idioms and some translated verses.'' -Najlaa, student

"It has a very nice design and I am sure if I have a good command of English it will be my favorite friend."-Dr. Abdullamir, Arabic professor.
"Every week I read the Yemen Times to read something I can't find in other media.''
-Mr. M. Naif.

"I adore Yemen times and I have a comment that 'Common Sense', published by Hassan Al Haifi should be simplified because it is not only difficult for students, but for us as well. It must be easy words, not technical words.'' -Dr. B. T. Desam

"Yemen Times represents democracy and Human Rights in Yemen and enables us to say anything without panic."-Ammar Al-Sharafi, Student
"I hope your reports in our esteemed paper makes a great impact on us to improve our studies, publish truths, and combat the nepotism and carelessness here.''
-M. Shamms, Student

Report by:
Ridhwan Al-Saqqaf
Aden Bureau Chief
The 10th Anniversary of Yemen Times was celebrated about one month ago indicating the progress and achievements of the newspaper during the last 10 years. Yemen Times is also admired and widely read in the economic capital of Yemen, the city of Aden. Its great popularity and readership in the city puts it ahead of most other newspapers and makes it compete even with Aden-based Arabic newspapers as well.
On this occasion, Yemen Times received tens of letters some congratulatory and others felicitation by fellow journalists from the beautiful city of Aden. Here we are honored to publish some of the statements of those Aden-based journalists who continue to have uniquely strong relationships with the Yemen Times.

Isam Saeed Salehm,
Editor-in-Chief of "Sum & Bum" newspaper
Yemen Times was and continues to be a distinguished newspaper in our country, not because it is in English, but because its management was able to withstand and combat many difficulties it faced. It has become a huge press enterprise with many contributions to the different sectors of our society by carrying out various programs including holding seminars and bringing out different publications. Its unique reports are distinguished for their accuracy and credibility, something not achieved by other local newspapers.
I knew the founder of Yemen Times, the late Prof. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf, as a friend as we met in several official visits to many countries together. The advice that he once gave me when I asked him about his opinion regarding my newspaper project was, "The true meaning of success comes when you draw your path with confidence and move along that very path until you reach success." His sympathy towards his colleague journalists was respectful and his sudden death on 2/6/1999 was truly devastating for all of us.
After his demise, I expected mistakenly that Yemen Times will not continue or at least would deteriorate. However, the efficient and hard working team of the Yemen Times led by his eldest son, Walid, exceeded the level of expectations who continued to publish the newspaper confidently. They deserve all the respect for the distinguished effort they have exerted, and I take the occasion of the 10th anniversary to congratulate them and wish them all the best. The issue of our newspaper published after the death of Dr. Al-Saqqaf was dedicated to him and his family. From what I concluded, he was an ideal father, brother, journalist, and citizen. I could only wish his son and all the Yemen Times staff all the best of luck in continuing the noble mission of its founder, who is also almost a co-founder of our newspaper. I do not say this as a complement for our newspaper, but indeed this is true.

Ma'roof Haddad
Journalist and Political Analyst
14 October Newspaper
The presence of an English-language newspaper such as Yemen Times is indeed a great advantage for the Yemeni press movement in Yemen, in its contents and its reputation.
Yemen Times was able to fill the gap created after all previously issued newspapers in English-language were closed for good, including the 'Recorder' and 'Aden Chronicle' at the end of the 1960s.
Yemen Times was also able in a short time to bridge the gap between the foreign community and local news in Yemen and maintain its distinguished and leading position among other newspapers due to its uniquely diverse topics and credible reporting.
What made Yemen Times distinguished among all other Yemeni newspapers is its totally independent stand and its honest and unbiased coverage in its stories, articles, and reports. The coverage of various economic and financial issue was also a major advantage over other newspapers. The newspaper has now become a major source of news for its large readership from all nationalities.
On the 10th anniversary of Yemen Times, I could only wish the staff all the best of luck and support them to continue improving this giant enterprise founded by a great man.

Abdulraqib Moqbil
Journalist at the Presidential Office
During the last 10 years, Yemen Times has been able to support the true meaning of the freedom of press and true role of the media by publishing true facts and stories of great significance for the Yemeni people. Being an English-language newspaper, Yemen Times was able to bypass the two main obstacles that it faced, which are:
1-English-illiteracy among the majority of the Yemeni public
2-The difficulty in keeping a link between the news of common interest along with issues of concern for the diplomatic and foreign communities.
The potential of Yemen Times to deal with those two issues was tremendously successful as it developed many features not available in most other newspapers. These include the quality news reports, quality color printing, columns and articles reflecting common problems among the Yemeni public, exciting and entertaining news reports that are usually not matched with reports in other journals. One of the main advantages has been its strong and independent stand that has enlarged the available margin for the freedom of press.
The beautiful and distinguished design of the pages was yet another advantage, and it is also the field that the newspaper pioneered over the years. It resembled the well-defined half news half advertisement structure adopted in most international newspapers worldwide. It is true that there were English-language newspapers in the past in Aden, such as the 'Aden Chronicle' and the 'Recorder', yet those newspapers were similar to English versions of traditional Arabic newspapers seen today in the market.
Yemen Times took over the mission of launching the first truly institutionalized newspaper that came after the reunification to effectively use the new space and scope democracy offered to bring new dimensions and ideas never implemented before.

Ten years of working against tremendous odds is not an easy thing. The accumulated experience and success along with the determination to open new horizons and bring new heights to journalism in Yemen will definitely continue to push Yemen Times forward.
On this occasion, we could only wish the staff all the best of luck and success in the path of true democracy and freedom of press that its founder, Prof. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf drew 10 years ago. May his soul rest in peace.

Mohamed Ali Saleh
Head of the Arab / International Department
14 October Newspaper
Despite its young age of just 10 years, Yemen Times has been able to make tremendous leaps in the Yemeni press with the language of the era (English). The newspaper's continuing success and progress no doubt is mainly due to its founder Prof. Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf. We hope that the newspaper would continue to go along the independent and unbiased path it is in today, and that it would continue its courageous and distinctive initiatives in all respects.
Yemen Times is truly Yemen's window to the world, and the world's window to Yemen in the third millennium. We could only pray to God to bless the soul of its founder, Dr. Abdulaziz who left us early in the prime of his life. He left us at a time we were in dire need for a person like him.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Yemen Times, Aden Bureau Chief Riwdhwan Al-Saqqaf presented several certificates of gratitude to Aden-based companies that have proven to be of support to Yemen Times through the years with a hope for their continued cooperation. The companies that received the certificates were:
1-The Free Zones Public Authority
2-Yeminvest
3-Aden Refinery
4-The National Bank of Yemen
5-Al-Rehab Perfumes
7-Aden Hotel
8-Aden University

The companies expressed their sincere appreciation for the token and the confidence for further cooperation and support, wishing Yemen Times and its staff all the best of success and luck in future.