Students Are Protesting In Lebanon Against Baccalaureate Exams

Lebanese students held a protest on Wednesday afternoon calling for the cancelation of the upcoming official Baccalaureate exams.

They gathered outside the headquarters of the Education Ministry in Beirut, declaring what they called “student disobedience,” and demanding a decision by caretaker Education Minister Tarek Al-Majzoub that gives all Grade 12 students Pass Statements.

While the demonstration unfolded, #Student_Disobedience became the top trending hashtag on Twitter in Lebanon. Many students took to social media to voice their disapproval of holding the exams this year.

Students have been calling for the cancelation of the official exams for months, citing health concerns related to the pandemic, as well as the ongoing phase of overall instability amid the prevailing crisis, the fuel shortages, the electricity and internet cuts, and other issues that have been affecting their studies.

“We want statements, we want statements,” the students participating in the protest repeatedly chanted, meaning Pass Statements.

Caretaker Minister Al-Majzoub had affirmed in a recent interview that the Baccalaureate exams would be held on schedule. That was a few days after he had issued a decision canceling the Brevet official exams.

Since then, Baccalaureate students have been demanding what they call “fair treatment” from the official.

In an effort to have the Education Ministry cancel the exams, the Lebanese Student Union 2020 organization has even called upon UNICEF and other donors to withdraw their funding of the exams.