Khaberni -
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced today, Tuesday, from the heart of the government operations room in Ramallah, the results of the General Secondary Examination for students from the Gaza Strip - born in 2006, with about 26,000 students from various directorates of the sector having participated in the exam.
This was during a press conference held by the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Prof. Amjad Barham, attended by the Minister of Social Development Dr. Samah Hamad, the Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Palestine, Essam Al-Badour, the President of the University of Islamic Sciences Prof. Jafar Al-Fnațsa, the Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Nafe' Assaf, representatives of the educational family, members from the operations room, partner institutions, and media representatives.
In her inaugural speech, Hamad said: "Launching the secondary general exam results from here, from the heart of the government operations room which has provided and continues to provide relief to our people in the Gaza Strip despite the pain and siege, today we smile and uphold hope and life," appreciating the cooperation of all partners in achieving this accomplishment, remembering the children and students who have passed as martyrs, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts to rebuild and develop Gaza.
Minister Barham said: "For the first time in the history of the ministry, the secondary general examination was conducted electronically, which has doubled the size of the challenges including intermittent internet, displacement, hunger, lack of electricity, and some students losing their families, but the students demonstrated that they are capable of facing challenges, they persevered and overcame difficulties, and proved that nothing is impossible for Palestinians.
He continued: Today, we announce our readiness to continue what we had started, with an emphasis on the need to conduct a field survey to assess the actual situation of schools, to assess the condition of school buildings and gathering places, and the conditions of teachers. We are ready to redesign our interventions within the framework of continuing our commitment to save the educational journey of Gaza’s students in schools and universities.
He added: Today we announce the results of the general secondary examination for those born in 2006, and we continue conducting the examination electronically for those born in 2007 with about 31 thousand students participating, and we continue preparations to hold the third session of the traditional matriculation examination for Gaza students in the Arab Republic of Egypt and in 22 other countries starting from the twenty-fourth of next month, all steps fall under our commitment to the directives of Mr. President, the Prime Minister, and the government to provide the utmost possible support for Gaza’s students.
He said: We will not announce a specific passing percentage today, but I assure that the percentage exceeds expectations, and the top ten in both the scientific and literary branches, as well as the top students in other branches, will receive a scholarship from President Mahmoud Abbas, may God preserve him, with the provision of more scholarships for Gaza’s students.
Barham expressed his gratitude to the King of Jordan, His Highness Prince Ghazi, to the University of Islamic Sciences, the Education for All Foundation, and all the partners in Qatar and friendly Jordan and the supporters and the educational teams that followed this significant effort.
From his side, Ambassador Al-Badour appreciated this achievement that was made under difficult circumstances and significant challenges, and what crystallized through hope in education, reaffirming the continuity of royal directives to support education in Gaza and in Jerusalem and the West Bank, expressing his pride and gratitude to the partners in the Ministry of Education and the Islamic Sciences University for their joint efforts in achieving this accomplishment, congratulating the students on their success.
For his part, Al-Fnațsa emphasized the significance of this event that was achieved with determination, perseverance, and relentless efforts, and the will of Gaza’s students, announcing about providing 3,000 free scholarships for bachelor students, congratulating the families of the students on the success and excellence of their children, expressing his thanks to the King of Jordan and Prince Ghazi and all the entities that supported this achievment, praising the qualitative partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and all the entities that supported and followed up until this national accomplishment was achieved, which represents a qualitative step in education despite all challenges.
At the end of the conference, the General Director of Examinations, Mohammed Masalameh, announced the results of the top ten students, naming this batch (The Phoenix Batch) with a message that from the wreckage hope emerges, ambition is renewed, and the students of Gaza launch anew.
