Education: Launch of the General Secondary Exam for 2006 Students from Gaza Electronically

SadaNews - The Ministry of Education and Higher Education launched today, Saturday, from the government operations room in Ramallah, the general secondary exam for students from the Gaza Strip born in 2006 electronically, where around 27,000 students from various districts of the strip registered for the exam.

This was announced during a press conference held by the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Amjad Barham, in the presence of the head of the government operations room, Minister of Social Development Dr. Samah Hamad, UNDP representative Jaco Silliers, and representatives of the educational community, members of the operations room, partner institutions, and media personnel.

This exceptional event comes amid ongoing occupation aggression that has deprived more than 70,000 students born in 2006 and 2007 from taking the exam, in addition to 4,000 who have been martyred, and 4,000 who have taken the exam abroad over the past two years.

Barham said: "From here, where we were some time ago and announced our commitment to hold the general secondary exam for Gaza students, amid the destruction, from the rubble of homes and schools, and in the midst of displacement and hunger, we stand for the right of Gaza students to education, even if the world remains a spectator to what education in Gaza and the West Bank is undergoing in terms of destruction."

He clarified that the exam will be electronic and conducted via the Wise School platform, in cooperation with the Islamic University of Science in Jordan, expressing his gratitude to His Majesty King Abdullah, Prince Ghazi, and the presidency of the university for their kind attention and cooperation. He also confirmed that the presidency and the government institutions are interested in this file, which remains a present issue, and the ministry considers it a national and moral responsibility.

He noted that on Monday, the new academic year will begin in the West Bank governorates, indicating the significant challenges facing the education sector due to the piracy of tax funds.

Barham continued: "In a few days, virtual schools for Gaza students will resume their work to start a new academic year, and we will monitor educational centers and provide physical learning spaces, as we have a comprehensive plan to deal with the effects of this unprecedented targeting of education in all its components. Today, more than 30 schools with their students and teachers have been removed from the educational register, and we are talking about the martyrdom of about 18,000 students and 750 teachers, with more than 90% of the schools destroyed."

The minister announced that the exam for the 2007 Tawjihi will be very soon, as the ministry conducted the first and second rounds of the exam for Gaza students abroad, allowing them to obtain a large number of scholarships in various countries worldwide, and continues programs to support Gaza universities, having a comprehensive plan approved by the government to deal with education when the aggression ends.

Barham added: "We consider that the new academic year begins today, as with the holding of the exam we commemorate the most significant intervention, and we extend our thanks to the Islamic University of Science, the UNDP, the Education Above All Foundation in Qatar, and the Qatar Development Fund, and thanks go to the General Administration of Examinations and the Gaza Education Unit in the ministry for their tremendous efforts, and thanks to the directors of the virtual schools and their teachers from the West Bank, and to the Gaza students who attended amidst the rubble of their homes."

He concluded his statement with a call to the international community to fulfill its responsibilities in protecting the rights of Palestinian children to education, saying: "We feel sorrow for what has happened to education in Gaza, and for the delay in launching the academic year in the West Bank due to the piracy of our funds, and we look forward to positions that rise to the level of the tragedy, and we demand the protection of education in Jerusalem, the valleys, and in every place. The commitments of the world's countries at the summit of (Transforming Education) are under serious test, and safe access to schools is no longer available, and attractive schools no longer exist, as there are no schools at all in Gaza."

In her speech, Minister Hamad praised the launch of exams today from the Gaza Strip, which comes amid difficult challenges and continued famine; it is an event that brings hope and life despite the rubble and destruction, noting the efforts led by the government through the operations room, focusing on providing all necessary conditions in the Gaza Strip, considering that the launch of exams today for the students of the sector expresses a strong will and insistence on life and persistence, praising the efforts of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in this context.

For his part, UNDP representative Silliers made an intervention, confirming the program's commitment to everything that helps Gaza students receive their right to education, pointing out that the Ministry of Education and Higher Education led this effort with courageous vision despite the difficult conditions, and this achievement reflects innovation born from suffering.

Silliers pointed to the strong cooperation with the ministry and what the UNDP has provided in terms of follow-ups, logistical services, and tablets, confirming that the program will continue to provide all support to the ministry's efforts and its partners, sending a strong message to the students of Palestine and specifically Gaza students in which he praised their resilience and strength, saying: "You are the hope and the future of Palestine, and every question you answer is a brave act."