Students in Suweida were prevented from leaving the city on Saturday morning to reach designated exam centers for the exceptional makeup session of the basic and general secondary education certificates, after groups described by the governorate as “outlaws” blocked their movement. The obstruction delayed the start of the exams, which eventually proceeded in centers across the northern countryside.
The Suweida Media Directorate announced that the exams were postponed to 11:00 AM to ensure students’ safety and secure their arrival. It confirmed that the delay resulted from the actions of the groups that barred students from leaving the city.
Suweida Governor Mustafa Al-Bakour said the blockade triggered frustration among students and their families, escalating into physical altercations and vandalism of citizens’ vehicles. A number of students remained gathered in the city square, insisting on reaching their centers to sit for their exams.
Al-Bakour stressed that the governorate mobilized all available resources to safeguard the examination process in coordination with relevant ministries and authorities. He underscored the need to keep students away from disputes and polarization, asserting that their future must not be used as leverage. He described students’ futures as a “red line” and a collective responsibility.
Meanwhile, the Suweida–Damascus highway saw heightened security and relief deployments from the early morning hours. Personnel from Internal Security, Highway Patrol, Civil Defense and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent worked to secure the movement of students and citizens and remove obstacles preventing access to exam centers.
The Ministry of Education confirmed that the exceptional session is proceeding as scheduled. It said all arrangements had been completed, including the delivery of exam materials, the arrival of invigilators and staff, and the provision of a safe and fair testing environment. The ministry expressed regret that some students were unable to reach their designated centers.
In a related statement, the United Nations in Syria welcomed Presidential Decree No. 163, which granted Suweida students an exceptional exam session. It voiced concern over reports of students being prevented from reaching their centers and other restrictions on freedom of movement.
The UN reaffirmed that every child has the right to education, learning and sitting for exams within a safe, stable and supportive environment. It called on all parties to ensure that students, supported by their caregivers, are able to exercise their right to education without pressure or obstacles that restrict their movement.
Suweida had prepared 27 exam centers for the exceptional session in its northern countryside, and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent announced its readiness to support the process and provide necessary requirements.
The makeup session is being held under Decree No. 163 of 2026, issued by President Ahmed al-Sharaa on August 19. The decree granted Suweida students who did not sit for the 2026 exams, or were unable to complete all subjects, an exceptional opportunity to take the basic and general secondary education certificate exams across all branches.
Official and UN statements converged on the urgent need to shield students from tensions and disputes, ensure their access to exam centers and enable them to sit for their exams — safeguarding their right to education and preventing field developments from jeopardizing their academic future.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
