For the First Time Since the 2023 Conflict, 1,500 Students Sit for Exams in Gaza

Despite the ongoing war, widespread destruction, and deepening humanitarian crisis, the dreams of Gaza’s students have not been silenced. On Saturday, the final secondary school examinations began across the besieged territory, organized by Gaza’s Ministry of Education. The exams represent a gateway to higher education for thousands of war-affected youth.

This year's exams hold special significance—they are the first secondary-level examinations to be held since the outbreak of the Hamas-Israel conflict in October 2023. Amid relentless Israeli assaults, the initiative is being hailed as a courageous step in preserving education.

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Education, approximately 1,500 students have registered for the exams. Remarkably, the tests are being conducted entirely digitally, via specialized software. Despite immense challenges in security and connectivity, technical preparations have already been completed.

Some students are taking the exams from their homes, while others are attending designated test centers, chosen based on local safety conditions.

Reporting from Gaza’s Deir al-Balah area, Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum said, “This exam represents the final symbol of hope for students—hope for higher education, scholarships, and a better future.”

He added, “In a war zone—without classrooms, without textbooks, and with unstable internet—students are still showing up, logging in, and declaring: this war will not steal our future.”

Gaza’s education system has been devastated by Israeli blockades and airstrikes. Many schools have been reduced to rubble or turned into shelters. In this reality, students’ participation in exams is not just an academic effort—it is an act of resistance and a statement of hope.

Analysts say this bold initiative not only opens doors to students’ futures but also draws global attention to Gaza’s ongoing educational crisis—and the resilience of those refusing to give up.