No Syrian is asked about the "Baccalaureate" exam without recalling the worst moments, and today it seems that Syrian students were faced with the worst. The mathematics exam left students in indescribable states; some fainted, others screamed, and some wept and mourned. Many comments circulated on social media discussing the matter, amidst sharp criticism regarding the exams' difficulty and the impossibility of solving the questions, according to some opinions. For its part, the local newspaper "Al-Watan" surveyed the opinions of some of the students who took the exam, who expressed, with great emotion, what they experienced due to the exam.
While one confirmed that she had never seen such questions, stating in the Syrian dialect, "I have never seen such questions in my life," another responded that those in charge of the exam deliberately aimed not to leave any successful candidates in the subject. A third indicated that the goal was to prevent any student from reaching medical school, noting that she only managed to get an hour and a half of sleep. One student, with tears in her eyes, said that one of the questions was worth 50 marks, criticizing the new grading system which makes passing a distant dream.
One mother added, questioning, "Is there a war between us and them?" referring to the fact that the questions seemed designed to frustrate students.
It’s noteworthy that the authorities in Syria announced last week, before the start of the exams for both the basic and baccalaureate levels, that internet and mobile communications would be cut to prevent any cheating or smuggling of weapons. The baccalaureate is an academic certification that varies by country and refers to the certificate concluding secondary education, allowing students to enter universities. In Syria, it is considered the "exam of a lifetime," as referred to by Syrians due to its difficulty and the challenging nature of the test.
