GAZA, (PIC)
On the beach of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza Strip, young Alaa Abu Ma’aleq sits in front of his tent holding his book, making a great effort to study for the high school exams. Alaa is trying to overcome his harsh circumstances and cling to hope, despite the pain, striving to achieve his childhood dream of becoming an engineer. His situation reflects not only his personal challenges but also the difficult reality faced by high school students who lost the opportunity to take their exams this summer due to the genocide. The Ministry of Education has decided to hold exceptional exams next February.
This announcement has rekindled the hopes of Alaa and his peers to make up for what they missed and to join universities and realize their long-held dreams. However, it has left many questions unanswered, especially regarding the exam process, with hints that it might be conducted online.
Alaa is enduring a lot; he lacks suitable study conditions, as he studies in a worn-out tent that offers no protection from the summer heat or winter cold, along with the noise of his five younger siblings. Additionally, he faces a lack of basic necessities like food, water, and shelter. Truly, Alaa is struggling in what can only be described as catastrophic conditions.
Alaa told the PIC reporter that he is studying hard to prepare for the high school exams, despite extremely harsh circumstances, aiming to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming an engineer. He confirmed that while the conditions are not suitable, he is determined to achieve his goal, despite the genocide, bombings, and starvation inflicted by the Israeli occupation. He noted that he chose the scientific track to pursue his engineering aspirations.
He explained that he relies on himself for studying, as there are no teachers, books, or study materials. He says, “We live in extremely harsh conditions; we are carving out our existence from rock, and we will endure.”
Struggles in providing books and online resources
In another part of Gaza, the struggles of student Tayeb Abu al-Ata are quite similar. He lives with his family in a house in the Deir al-Balah refugee camp, and due to the genocide, relatives have come to live with them after repeated evacuation orders from the Israeli army. He tells the PIC reporter that he is studying under very difficult conditions. He confirms that he has trouble obtaining the necessary books and study materials, does not have electricity at night, and cannot access online classes due to lack of internet.
Students in Gaza rely entirely on themselves to prepare for the exams, with no schools or textbooks available. Tayeb tries to cover his educational needs by buying candles, internet cards, and paying for private lessons, all while prices are soaring. Despite the Ministry of Education’s efforts to support them through online platforms and virtual schools, weak electricity and internet service make these solutions impractical.
Educational packages
The spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Education, Sadiq Khudour, stated that the ministry has mobilized its resources to help students in the Gaza Strip, especially those in their final year, and is organizing exams for them. He added in a press statement that the ministry has developed educational packages covering all subjects (while condensing and focusing on important points to accommodate students’ circumstances), in addition to establishing virtual schools online and preparing for a special session for those who could not take their final exams last academic year. The ministry has also launched educational platforms that include all recorded lessons.
Khudour mentioned that around 31,000 students in their final year in Gaza are currently enrolled in virtual schools, and they are being provided with educational materials through the “Wise School” platform in collaboration with the World Islamic Science University. He noted that students who could not take the exam last academic year (born in 2006) will take it at the end of February 2025, while students of the current academic year (born in 2007) will take the exam next June. The ministry has not yet decided on the format of the exam due to the ongoing war.
He said that “the format of the exam is unclear due to the continuation of the war; the first option is to hold it in person, and if that is not possible, it will be conducted online. If that too is not feasible, we have contingency plans, including creating a question bank through special platforms so that students can take the exam at various times instead of at a single time.”
Khudour praised the experience of virtual schools, calling it a pioneering step, adding that “the number of enrolled students is not small, and the level of interaction between teachers and students shows that this education has restored hope for the students.” He noted, “It is true that there is variability in attendance daily due to the field situation, but having nearly a quarter of a million students attending is an achievement.”
According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, the number of students who were unable to take their final high school exams due to the war reached 39,000. Previous data indicated that during the war, the occupation destroyed 117 schools and universities completely and 332 partially.
