Sweida protests mark a month of demanding students' right to education

Students and residents of Swedia Governorate continue, for the thirtieth consecutive day, to organize a peaceful protest demanding the holding of an exceptional examination session within the governorate, affirming their commitment to the right to education for students and the necessity of ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates for public certificate exams.
The protesters demanded the organization of an examination session within the city of Sweida under the supervision of an official delegation from the Ministry of Education, accompanied by international organizations, ensuring that the exams are conducted in suitable and safe conditions, and preserving the right of all students to take their exams without having to leave the governorate.
The participants emphasized that their demands stem from a concern for the students' future and a refusal to deprive any student of completing their educational journey due to the security and administrative conditions that the governorate has witnessed in the past period. They called on the relevant authorities to respond to their request for an exceptional session that takes into account the circumstances that prevented thousands of students from taking their exams.
The issue dates back to a decision by the Ministry of Education of the interim government in Syria to transfer the basic education and general secondary certificate exams for students in the governorate of Sweida to examination centers in the governorates of Damascus and Rural Damascus. They justified this by the aim of providing a safe examination environment and ensuring the examination process proceeds according to the established standards, after failing to reach a mechanism for conducting the exams within the governorate.
In contrast, educational officials and parents of students in Sweida explained that thousands of students were unable to reach their examination centers, and others refused to send their children out of fear for their lives. This prompted the Education Directorate in the governorate to officially address the ministry, requesting a special examination session to be held within Sweida, after statistics showed that a large percentage of students were unable to take the exams.
The continuation of the protests comes at a time when students and their families are awaiting an official stance from the Ministry of Education regarding their demands, amidst increasing calls to find a solution that guaranties students' right to education and spares them from losing their academic year due to the exceptional circumstances the governorate has witnessed.

ANHA