On 26 August 2023, the school year opened in Gaza for what would be the last time before the war. Hundreds of thousands of students returned to their classrooms, including Tawjihi students entering the most decisive year of their education. In Palestine, Tawjihi marks the transition to higher education, shaping the trajectory of future careers.
Only weeks later, the war began. Schools closed, and massive waves of displacement swept across the Gaza Strip. Families crowded into school buildings used as shelters, frightened students lost access to safe classrooms, and teachers were displaced alongside them. With education brought to a standstill, students, especially Tawjihi’s—faced little chance or hope of sitting for exams. Today, more than 90 percent of schools in Gaza are damaged or destroyed, underscoring the scale of the crisis.
Supporting Education Amid Crisis
As part of the overall UN response in Gaza, and in coordination with the Education Cluster, UNDP has focused on supporting the restoration of essential services—including safeguarding education as a lifeline for young people. This includes the establishment of 50 temporary learning centers equipped with school furniture and supplies, support to local businesses to produce desks and blackboards, and restoring access to education for approximately 10,000 students.
In partnership with PAMA and Heal Palestine, UNDP has strengthened digital platforms, established service centers, and distributed tablets to students to ensure they could register, prepare, and participate in the national exams “Tawjihi” despite the war.
In collaboration with the Education Above All Foundation, the Qatar Fund for Development, and the World Islamic Sciences and Education University under the auspices of HRH Prince Ghazi, additional temporary learning centers are being established to ensure that education continues despite widespread displacement and destruction.
Despite these overwhelming challenges and working under the leadership of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education with the support of strategic partners, 28,200 students in Gaza sat for their Tawjihi exams on 6 September 2025 under extraordinary circumstances. This milestone stands as a testament to persistence and resilience, as Palestine pioneers an electronic Tawjihi examination system in the midst of crisis.
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