Prime Minister Najib Mikati, accompanied by Minister of Education Abbas Al-Halabi, toured the "San Jude" Children's Cancer Center at the American University of Beirut, where official exams for the secondary school certificate are being conducted. President Mikati observed the progress of the exams and spoke with several students who were taking the tests under arrangements suitable for their conditions.
President Mikati announced, "We continue our rounds at the exam centers, as if it is always destined for the Lebanese to face challenges. Last week, we were in the south and saw students there taking exams under bombardment, moving from one village to another. Today, we witness the will to live among the young men and women at the 'San Jude' center as they take their exams. Certainly, the will to live among the Lebanese is stronger than any other will. We will arm ourselves with knowledge, hope, and faith, and hopefully reach the shore of safety."
The President recorded a message in the center's logbook stating: "Challenge is the fate of the Lebanese, and we are today in this center, which is a cradle of challenge... challenge of life, hope, and faith. 'San Jude Center' is a beacon for treatment and humanitarian work for every sick child. May God guide your steps and heal your patients."
As for the Minister of Education, Judge Abbas Al-Halabi said, "This is the third year we come to the Children's Cancer Center to stand by our children and students who have been afflicted by illness, but it has not affected their will and faith in life and their love for knowledge. I salute them and commend those responsible for this center, which provides a national humanitarian service, wishing success to all students, God willing."
The official exams for the secondary school certificate continue in their second day in the Nabatieh Governorate, where students are distributed across 16 centers as follows: 10 centers in the Nabatieh district, including the Official Hasan Hallal School, the Official Haboush Intermediate School, the Official Samih Hallal School, the Official Samir Krayker School, the Official Abdul Latif Fayad Intermediate School, the Official Nabatieh Girls High School, the Official Meifdoun School, the Official Zebdine Intermediate School, the Official Shawkin Intermediate School, the Official Sabah High School, and the Official Hasbaya High School. There are 4 centers in the Bint Jbeil district, and 2 centers in the Hasbaya district.
