In the Musa family home in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, the announcement of this year’s high school examination results reflected a long journey of determination for three siblings, according to Al Jazeera. Despite the ongoing devastation and immense hardships in Gaza, Sama, Abdullah, and Nada Musa focused entirely on their Tawjihi exams to protect their academic futures from relentless uncertainty. Their initial anxiety turned into a family celebration when all three learned they had passed with exceptional grades, with Sama scoring 97.5 percent, Abdullah 94.6 percent, and Nada 94.4 percent.
Sama Musa noted that the path to academic success was exceptionally difficult under the prevailing circumstances. She explained that psychological energy was often depleted, yet she challenged every obstacle to bring joy to her family and achieve her long-held dreams. For Abdullah and Nada, the journey required home tutoring arrangements because physical disabilities prevented them from attending external classes. Their mother, Hind Muhanna, expressed profound gratitude, noting that years of dedicated care and family support finally bore fruit despite the surrounding turmoil.
Behind these individual triumphs were dedicated educators who continued their duties amidst exceptional challenges. Hanaa al-Sayed, a mathematics teacher in Deir el-Balah, supported numerous Tawjihi students at an educational center amid widespread destruction. Many students arrived carrying heavy psychological burdens from losing family members and homes, prompting al-Sayed to provide emotional comfort alongside academic instruction. Classes were conducted on mats inside makeshift shelters and damaged schools, yet students demonstrated an unwavering commitment to learning as their pathway to the future.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Education, approximately 89,000 students across the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip sat for the Tawjihi exams this year. The conflict has severely damaged over 97 percent of schools in Gaza, pushing the educational system to the brink of collapse. Despite losing loved ones, changing learning environments, and enduring daily devastation, students like Tala Abu Sukkar and the Musa siblings exemplified extraordinary resilience. Their achievements highlight the enduring value Palestinians place on education as an instrument of hope and national survival.
