In the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, the Musa family celebrated a significant academic milestone despite the harrowing backdrop of Israel’s genocide. Sama, Abdullah, and Nada Musa, siblings who faced numerous adversities, announced their Tawjihi high school examination results on July 24, with all three passing with impressive scores. Sama led with a 97.5 percent, followed by Abdullah at 94.6 percent and Nada at 94.4 percent. ‘Even psychologically, a person did not have the energy to continue, but I challenged all circumstances so I could make my family happy and achieve the grade I had dreamed of for years,’ said Sama Musa, reflecting on the exceptional and difficult journey to academic success.
Their success was not an isolated incident. Palestinian Minister of Education Amjad Barham disclosed that approximately 89,000 students in the occupied West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip sat for the Tawjihi exams this year. An additional 2,000 students in 46 other countries also participated. Over the past three years, more than 106,000 students in Gaza took the Tawjihi, including 36,900 in 2026 alone. However, more than 1,100 students who were due to take the exams this year were tragically killed by Israel, highlighting the severity of Gaza’s educational crisis.
The United Nations reported in November that over 97 percent of schools in the region have been damaged or destroyed over the past two years of conflict, leaving Gaza’s educational system on the brink of collapse. Nearly 92 percent of education facilities require full reconstruction or major rehabilitation to function again. Despite these challenges, teachers like Hanaa al-Sayed continued their duties with exceptional dedication, providing not only academic but also emotional support to their students.
‘The students did not only need someone to explain the curriculum; they needed someone to listen to them and stand beside them,’ al-Sayed told Al Jazeera, describing her approach to teaching in a school that also functioned as a shelter for displaced individuals. The resilience and determination of students like Tala Abu Sukkar, who lost multiple family members during the conflict but still managed to achieve an 86 percent average score in her Tawjihi exams, underscore the importance of education to Palestinians.
The stories of these students in Gaza are emblematic of a generation’s commitment to education and a better future, illustrating the patience, determination, and the crucial role of education in Palestinians’ lives. Despite the loss of loved ones, changing learning environments, and daily difficulties, students persevered with the support of their families and teachers, with schools remaining a beacon of hope, care, and ambition amidst the devastation.