65% of Palestinian students pass high school exams

Mohammad Al-Haddad shows his results card after passing secondary-level education. He averaged 99.6%, ranking first across the Gaza Strip and the third in all of Palestine [July 12, 2016]

Nearly 65 per cent of Palestinian students who took the general secondary examination, Tawjehi, passed this year, the minister of education announced yesterday.

Speaking during a press conference in Ramallah, Sabri Saydam said students who studied science did the best and achieved an 85 per cent success rate.

Mohammad Al-Haddad achieved an average of 99.6 per cent, ranking first across the Gaza Strip and third across Palestine. Al-Haddad rejoiced after he received his results and told MEMO that he intends to study medicine. It is one of the most noble professions, he said, adding that it would help him stand with his people who have long made sacrifices for their homeland.

The family of Reina Al-Madani, who attained an average of 99.1 per cent, expressed their utmost joy because she ranked ninth across Palestine. Facing displacement from their homes during the war in 2014 and mourning the death of their relatives in the south of the Gaza Strip, there was no atmosphere of joy when Reina’s sister received similar high results two years ago. Now that things have relatively settled down for the family, the joy has returned.

Thousands of students went to their schools to receive their high school certificates and give away sweets to their colleagues and teachers. Admission to local Palestinian universities has now begun, while some students remain stuck in the Strip awaiting the Rafah crossing to open so they can study abroad.

Exclusive images by MEMO Photographer Mohammed Asad.