Education Minister Rima Karameh during the press conference on Friday, May 15. She is accompanied notably by the Director General of Education, Fady Yarak, and the Director General of the CRDP, Hyam Ishak. (Credit: National News Agency)
Education and Higher Education Minister Rima Karameh announced Friday that the Lebanese brevet exams have been canceled this year for the second consecutive year, in a context of war, the Israeli advance in southern Lebanon, and the displacement of more than one million people since March 2.
She specified that the school grades for the year, as well as those from the final exam organized by each institution, will be taken into consideration as an alternative to the brevet exams. "Rejoice, there is no brevet this year," she joked to the candidates, as reported by the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
As for the official baccalaureate exams, they will take place over three sessions, with each candidate having the opportunity to attend two consecutive sessions [to provide a chance for retakes]. The three sessions will be held on June 29, July 27, and Sept. 7, 2026, for the exceptional session. "The decision for three sessions was made considering the situation of the students," the minister explained.
However, given the context of war, Karameh announced a reduction in the history, geography and civics programs, as well as the removal of optional subjects. "We made the difficult decision to reduce the programs. There will be no optional subjects in the general baccalaureate. On the other hand, the greatest reduction has been applied to history, geography and civics," she emphasized.
Karameh's decision comes two days after France announced the cancellation of the French baccalaureate exams in Lebanon and other countries in the region, given the exceptional circumstances, particularly the ongoing war in the region and to ensure greater fairness among students, notably in Iran, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, and also Mali.
