GAZA, (PIC)
In a scene reflecting years of war, displacement, and disrupted education, thousands of high school students across the Gaza Strip began their final secondary school exams this year under unprecedented conditions, facing challenges unseen by previous generations.
Between overcrowded displacement tents, destroyed homes, and chronic shortages of electricity and internet access, Gaza’s students are fighting a double battle: the struggle to survive and the struggle to hold on to their right to education.
The Palestinian Ministry of Education said high school exams for Gaza students began on June 20, 2026, through an electronic examination system, an exceptional measure imposed by the ongoing circumstances and the destruction affecting the education sector. Around 37,700 students from Gaza are taking part in this year’s exams out of nearly 91,000 students across Palestine and abroad.
For many students, preparing for exams was far from normal. Many lost their homes, were displaced multiple times, or studied in conditions where schools had been damaged or turned into shelters.
With no stable classrooms or learning environments, students relied on limited educational initiatives, intermittent online classes, and individual study sessions inside tents, temporary shelters, or even cafés where electricity and internet access were available for only a few hours.
The hardships extended beyond academics. Many students took on responsibilities at home, helping their families secure basic necessities or caring for younger siblings, leaving them with less time and energy to study.
Educators say Gaza’s high school students are facing unprecedented psychological and social pressures, including fear, loss of family members, displacement, and uncertainty about their future. طلبة مدينة غزة يؤدون اختبارات الثانوية العامة تزامنًا مع زملائهم في الضفة وباقي المناطق #فيديو pic.twitter.com/RJt4u1SLf1 — الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) June 20, 2026 Student Ahmad Hani from Jabalia said the biggest challenge was finding a quiet place to study, explaining that he and his family were living in a tent west of Gaza City. He said nighttime was often his only opportunity to review lessons, relying on his phone’s light or a battery-powered lamp due to electricity shortages.
“I felt I was studying in circumstances completely different from any other student in the world, but I tried to hold on to hope because high school represents the gateway to my future,” he said.
Student Maha Fathi said she was displaced several times and constantly feared losing her books. She added that throughout the year she struggled to find regular study time because of household responsibilities and the harsh realities of life in displacement.
“Despite everything, I tried to use every quiet hour to review. Reaching exam day itself is an achievement after everything we have been through,” she said.
Educational specialists say this year’s high school exams represent more than an academic milestone; they are an attempt to preserve the continuity of education and prevent the loss of an entire generation affected by war and displacement. Despite the importance of completing high school, questions remain over students’ university futures amid economic hardship, damage to higher education institutions, and challenges related to travel, scholarships, and opportunities to continue their studies.
Yet for thousands of Gaza students, these exams remain a symbol of determination, a step toward reclaiming their educational journey after years of hardship.
Amid books, generators, and crowded tents, they are writing the story of a generation determined not to let war take away their right to dream.