KLIK SAJA – Hundreds of Palestinian students in Gaza are taking their final high school exams, organized by the Ministry of Education in the besieged territory, holding onto hope that they can pursue higher education despite the ongoing war.
Earlier this month, the ministry announced that the exams would take place on Saturday.
This marks the first time such exams have been held since Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza following the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel in October 2023.
According to the ministry, approximately 1,500 students have registered to sit the exams, which are being conducted electronically using specialized software.
The ministry emphasized that all necessary technical preparations have been made to ensure the exams run smoothly.
Some students are taking the exam online from home, while others are attending designated venues, depending on their location— all with safety in mind due to the daily Israeli airstrikes.
The exam serves as a critical gateway to higher education, scholarships, and a future beyond the Israeli blockade.
Since the war began, the education of many Gaza students has been put on indefinite hold.
The results of Saturday’s exam will determine whether these students can continue their academic journeys at the university level.
Many of them should have already been enrolled in universities by now.
However, they remain at the high school level due to the devastating impact of the war, which has not only crippled Gaza’s education system but also decimated much of its civilian infrastructure.
In response, Gaza’s Ministry of Education has launched the first-ever online platform in the enclave, enabling high school seniors to sit for their final exams.
Students are logging in from cafés, tents, and shelters—anywhere they can find a charged device and a working internet connection.
Before the main exam, students took part in a mock test—designed not only to assess their knowledge but also to ensure the stability of the new online system.
