Students and Families Protest Outside Tripoli Education Department Demanding Cancellation of Official Exams

High school and middle school students, accompanied by their families, organized a protest outside the Education Department in Tripoli. The demonstration included the participation of Captain Shadi Al-Sayyed, head of the Federation of Labor and Employees Unions in Northern Lebanon, members of the Tripoli Municipal Council, and educational activists.

During the gathering, Captain Al-Sayyed spoke loudly, criticizing the Minister of Education's stance as stubborn. He stated that holding the certificate exams under current circumstances is inappropriate and untimely.

He added, "We do not have a personal dispute with the Minister; on the contrary, but this is a matter of a balanced national decision that requires appropriate measures regarding the exams. Therefore, we appeal again to the Parliament, the Cabinet, and the Minister to take a decision that aligns with the current reality. More than half of the students in Lebanon have not received adequate education. If some students have obtained sufficient and proper education during the academic year, this is a merit that favors them. However, the issue concerns the conditions and timing, which the Minister, Karamy, must consider equally and fairly for all Lebanese and students."

Captain Al-Sayyed also warned of assembling in front of exam centers to prevent entry and exit if the exams proceed as planned, stating, "We hope not to reach this outcome."

Maher Bakir, a member of the Tripoli Municipal Council, praised Captain Al-Sayyed’s position, describing it as prioritizing key issues. He affirmed, "We confirm that official certification is fundamental, but under exceptional circumstances, we submit to exceptional decisions and approaches. Therefore, equality among students necessitates not holding these exams."

The protesting students issued a statement expressing their deep concern about the exceptional circumstances affecting students in Lebanon due to successive crises, security tensions, and psychological and social pressures that have directly impacted their educational progress and ability to prepare for official exams.

They called on the Minister of Education and Higher Education to reconsider the method of conducting this year’s high school certificate exams by exploring exceptional solutions that take current conditions into account, including the cancellation of official exams.

The statement emphasized that their action respects laws and regulations and stems from their belief in students’ right to fair education that acknowledges the exceptional conditions the country is facing, expressing solidarity with their peers in the south.