Following the recommendation of the parliamentary education committee to reconsider the timing of the General Secondary Certificate exams and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s decision to postpone the initial date to allow for more preparation and study, Education Minister Rima Karami held an extensive virtual consultative meeting. The meeting included General Director of Education Fadi Yarak, Head of the Private Education Authority Imad Al Ashqar, Primary Education Director George Dawood, Secondary Education Director Khaled Fayad, Head of the Guidance and Counseling Department Hilda Khuri, and the Private Schools Union led by Father Youssef Nasr among other key educational figures and representatives of private and public high schools from across Lebanon, especially those in affected areas like the South, Nabatieh, Dahieh, and Baalbek-Hermel.
Throughout the meeting, which lasted over three hours, Minister Karami listened to participants discuss the challenges surrounding the academic year due to the recent attacks on Lebanon. Opinions varied; some emphasized the need to cancel the official exams, while others underscored the importance of conducting them using the flexible three-session method implemented by the Ministry of Education. Suggestions of postponing the exams or offering them as optional for students were also considered.
Minister Karami assured that these perspectives would be evaluated to form proposals for the Council of Ministers, focusing on educational justice and equity for each student.
She reminded attendees that the safety of students and educational fairness have been constant priorities. The Council of Ministers adopted a flexible approach, offering three exam sessions and reducing the syllabus to content taught until March 1, the onset of the assault. Additionally, exams would be conducted where students have relocated to avoid safety risks. She highlighted the need for an educational community to address the negative consequences of exceptional decisions due to the ongoing instability in Lebanon, considering the country’s geographic location.
Minister Karami requested participants to submit suitable proposals and alternatives that ensure the credibility of the Lebanese certificate and protect students' rights.