Amid Rubble and Loss, Gaza Students Excel in Tawjihi Exams

The Musa siblings of Khan Younis in southern Gaza celebrated a rare moment of joy this week when all three brothers and sisters passed the Tawjihi high school exam with outstanding marks: Sama scored 97.5%, Abdullah 94.6%, and Nada 94.4%.

The achievement is especially remarkable given the war and blockade that have gripped Gaza for years. Sama, the eldest, described the path to this success as “very special and full of hardship.” He said: “Even mentally, a person no longer has the energy to continue, but I challenged all circumstances to make my family happy and achieve the score I had always dreamed of.”

For Abdullah and Nada, who have physical disabilities, studying was even more arduous. Unable to attend extra classes, they relied on teachers who came to their home. Their mother, Hind Muhanna, said years of care and support had finally paid off. “We always made our children feel they were better than anyone. From kindergarten to school, people who knew them would ask me: What is your secret to raising such confident children?” she told reporters.

Nada said her parents’ unwavering support was the greatest motivation to “overcome every obstacle.” Abdullah, meanwhile, expressed relief that the results reflected the family’s collective effort. “It was a very difficult year, full of displacement and hardship, but despite the pain, we achieved our goal,” he said.

More than 36,000 students sit exams amid devastation

The Musa family is not alone. Thousands of other Gaza students pushed through to complete this year’s exams. According to Palestinian Education Minister Amjad Barham, about 89,000 students in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip took the test, along with roughly 2,000 students across 46 other countries.

Barham added that over the past three years, more than 106,000 Gaza students have taken the Tawjihi exam, including 36,900 this year. Sadly, more than 1,100 students who were expected to sit for the exam this year have been killed by Israeli forces.

The United Nations has warned that Gaza’s education system is on the verge of collapse, with about 92% of educational facilities needing full reconstruction or major rehabilitation. More than 97% of schools have been damaged or destroyed since the October 2023 offensive began.

Classrooms in tents and amid loss

Behind the students’ success are dedicated teachers. Hanaa al-Sayed, a math teacher at an education center in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, set up Tawjihi classes in a school that also serves as a shelter for displaced families. “There were no desks or chairs. The school was split into two: one part for students, the other for displaced people. But we were determined not to let learning be interrupted,” she said.

Many students arrived in a heavy emotional state after losing loved ones. “They didn’t just need someone to teach; they needed someone to listen and stand by them. I treated them like my own daughters, offering encouragement before teaching math,” Hanaa said.

Some students who had dropped out before the war have now returned. “There were those who had lost hope of continuing their studies, but now they’re back. That reflects their determination and hunger to achieve their dreams,” she added.

Joy mixed with grief

For many examinees, receiving results was a day of joy shadowed by sorrow. Tala Abu Sukkar, an 18-year-old from Bureij refugee camp, lost her mother when she was just two years old. During the war, she also lost her brother, father, sister, and four nephews. Living with her uncle, Tala sat for this year’s exam and scored 86%.

“I lost people who were part of my life. The hardest part is to keep going while carrying pain in your heart, but I tried to stay strong,” she said. Upon seeing her results, her emotions were mixed: “I’m happy I succeeded, but I wish my father and siblings were here to share this joy with me.”

The stories of this year’s Tawjihi examinees in Gaza are a testament to the resilience of a generation refusing to bow to adversity. As teacher Hanaa put it: “They believe education is the path to the future.” For Gaza’s children, even a damaged school still nurtures hope and ambition.