Despite the devastating impact of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza‘s education system, hundreds of Palestinian students are taking their end-of-secondary-school exams, a critical gateway to higher education and scholarships. The Ministry of Education confirmed that around 1,500 students are registered to take the exam, which is being conducted electronically using specialized software.
Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah , highlighted the determination of Gaza’s students: “Even in a warzone, with no classrooms, no books and barely any internet, Gaza’s students are showing up, logging in and sitting their final exam, refusing to let war erase their future.” The online platform, launched by Gaza’s Education Ministry, enables high school seniors to take their final exam, with safety considerations in mind given the daily Israeli bombardment.
However, students face numerous challenges, including weak internet connectivity, lack of devices, and no safe space to take the test. “We are taking exams online, but it is so difficult,” student Doha Khatab said. “The internet is weak, many of us do not have devices and there is no safe space to take the test. We also lost our books in the bombardment.” Teachers are providing in-person guidance to support students, with Enam Abu Slisa, a teacher, saying, “It is the first time the ministry has done this online and students are confused, so we’re trying to guide them step by step.”
The war has devastated Gaza’s education system, with 95 percent of educational infrastructure destroyed, leaving over 660,000 children out of school. A report to the UN Human Rights Council found that Israeli forces systematically destroyed education infrastructure in Gaza, describing these actions as potential war crimes.
Morad al-Agha, the exams director of the Central Gaza Governorate, emphasized the ministry’s efforts to resolve concerns: “Students have downloaded the app to take their exam, but they face many challenges. We have raised these concerns with the ministry to make sure they’re resolved, so students can sit for their exams without disruption”.
The resilience of Gaza’s students is a testament to their determination to pursue their education despite the ongoing conflict. As the results of the exam will allow them to continue their studies at university, these students are refusing to let the war erase their future.