Press conference held by caretaker Education Minister Abbas Halabi at his office at the Ministry Friday. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — “The official exams have concluded successfully,” caretaker Education Minister Abbas Halabi said in a press conference from his office at his ministry Friday, the state-run National News Agency reported.
The baccalaureate exams for the official education took place from last Saturday until Thursday. The organization of the session in southern Lebanon was problematic as the region has been perturbated by the daily exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel since Oct.8. Students from the border region have been particularly affected by the situation and prevented from continuing their education regularly.
According to UNICEF, 44 public schools had been closed in southern Lebanon this academic year which had affected the education of approximately 10,000 students.
"The official exams in general and vocational education have concluded successfully. Congratulations to all who contributed to their accomplishment and success. Congratulations to Lebanon for taking on the challenge under extremely difficult, if not perilous, circumstances on many occasions. However, our unified determination insisted on preserving our official certificates as an expression of our commitment to our educational leadership and identity, while our beloved South was bleeding."
Exam questions ‘were not leaked’
He emphasized, "Candidates were present in centers without phones or any means of external communication, disproving allegations of question leakage. Teachers and professors, mindful of their educational responsibility, participated extensively in question development committees and monitoring across 240 centers in general education and 56 in vocational and technical education, including centers for special needs, four abroad, and facilities like Ward El Warwar Prison and Saint Jude's Cancer Center,” Halabi said.
'We did not endanger our students'
"Some thought we took exams lightly, endangering our children, but there are facts the public must know. We initiated communications starting with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, General Director of Internal Security Forces Major General Imad Othman, and Army Intelligence and Operations directors, thanking each for their support."
Halabi had announced before the exams had started that"the transportation of 3,000 Lebanese baccalaureate candidates from conflict zones in southern Lebanon to examination centers in safer areas, such as Sour, Nabatieh, and Tebnine, will be provided by the ministry with the support of the Lebanese army and UNIFIL."
"Exam security, from student transport to safe return, question preparation, and distribution, was paramount. We secured buses with army escorts, ensuring student reassurance beyond our diplomatic contacts that secured this protective umbrella, allowing exams to proceed safely and peacefully,” he said.
"Yesterday, we also requested funding from UNICEF for official exams to support supervisors, correctors, and all involved," Halabi concluded.
