Gaza high school students finals exam postponed after cyberattack

The Palestinian Ministry of Education on Saturday launched an online high school (Tawjihi) final exam for more than 27,000 students from the Gaza Strip.

However, the first session was canceled and rescheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 16, after the platform was targeted by a cyberattack.

Cyberattacks Reschedule Exam Session

The ministry said in a statement that the exam platform was hit by "strong cyberattacks from several countries," which prevented some students from taking the exam.

The first session, for the Arabic language, will now be treated as a trial run for all students. Students will take subsequent sessions as scheduled in the previously announced program.

“A Victory for the Right to Education”

During a press conference held at the Government Operations Room in Ramallah, Minister of Education Amjad Barham said that holding the exam was a "victory for the right of Gaza students to education, even while the world stands by idly regarding the destruction of education in Gaza and the West Bank."

Barham noted the immense challenges facing students, including the killing of approximately 4,000 students from their generation and the fact that more than 70,000 students were unable to take the exam over the past two years.

He added that more than 90% of schools have been destroyed, and nearly 18,000 students and 750 teachers have been killed. Barham thanked Jordan, the University of Islamic Sciences, the UNDP, and the Education Above All Foundation in Qatar for their support.

Praise for Students' Resilience

Minister of Social Development Samah Hamad praised the launch of the exams as an expression of a "strong will and a determination to live and survive."