Gaza: Minister of Education and Higher Education Amjad Barham announced the 2026 General Secondary Education Examination (Tawjihi) results on Friday, revealing an overall pass rate of 74 percent in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, and among students studying abroad.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Barham stated that the overall pass rate for students in the Gaza Strip will be announced after the completion of the second examination session due to technical reasons. He also announced that the implementation of the new secondary education system has been postponed until the 2027/2028 academic year.
Speaking at a press conference, Barham highlighted that Tawjihi examinations were held simultaneously in both the West Bank and Gaza for the first time in three years. He added that the ministry has continued to ensure Gaza students' right to sit for the exams despite the ongoing Israeli offensive.
He noted that more than 106,000 students in the Gaza Strip have taken the Tawjihi exams over the past three years, including 36,900 this year. Tragically, more than 1,100 students who were expected to sit for this year's exams were killed.
Barham reported that around 89,000 students took the examinations this year across the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, along with more than 2,000 students who sat for the exams in 46 countries worldwide.
The minister also revealed that three Tawjihi students were killed in the occupied West Bank this year, while 67 students were unable to take the exams due to being held in Israeli prisons. He expressed hope for their release in the near future.
Barham emphasized that this year's pass rate exceeded those of previous years, a testament to the efforts of students and teachers. He added that preparations for the new secondary education system are largely complete, but implementation has been delayed to the 2027/2028 academic year to ensure technical and administrative readiness.
He underscored the resilience of Gaza students, who have now taken the Tawjihi exams for a third consecutive year under exceptional conditions, including in tents and amid the rubble of destroyed neighborhoods.