Armed clashes in As-Suwayda delay extraordinary exams for "a few hours"
The Syrian Ministry of Education confirmed the continuation of the exceptional examination session for students in As-Suwayda, which began yesterday at examination centers in the northern countryside of the governorate, according to the scheduled program.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the ministry clarified in a statement via its Telegram channel that all necessary arrangements for conducting the exams were implemented in coordination with relevant ministries, authorities, and the As-Suwayda governorate. These measures included delivering exam questions and materials to the centers, ensuring the arrival of supervisors and staff assigned to their duties, and providing the requirements needed to guarantee that exams are conducted in a fair, safe, and suitable environment for students.
The ministry expressed regret that not all students were able to reach the examination centers to take their exams, despite the completion of preparations and the opening of the centers’ doors to them. It affirmed that it would continue to take all necessary steps to ensure every student’s right to education and to advance to the exams, driven by its responsibility toward students and its commitment to preventing the loss of their educational futures. The ministry emphasized that its doors and alternative educational options would remain open to them.
For his part, Qutaiba Azzam, Director of Media Relations at the As-Suwayda Media Directorate, confirmed in a statement to SANA that the examination process had launched at the designated centers in the northern countryside to receive students and administer the exams, in accordance with approved ministerial regulations and instructions. Azzam noted that As-Suwayda Governor Mustafa Al-Bakour conducted an inspection tour of the examination centers in the northern countryside, accompanied by the Director of Education for Rural Damascus, the Director of the Examinations Department, and the Director of the School Buildings Authority.
Earlier, the As-Suwayda Governorate Media Directorate had announced the postponement of the start time for the exceptional examination session for both basic education and general secondary school certificates, including all their branches, for a few hours, in order to safeguard students’ safety and ensure their arrival at the examination centers.
According to SANA, the As-Suwayda governorate clarified via its Telegram channel that the temporary postponement decision resulted from delays caused by “obstructions imposed by illegal groups on student movement” on their way to the examination centers.
This development came amid a heavy security and humanitarian mobilization along the As-Suwayda-Damascus highway, involving internal security forces, road security personnel, civil defense teams, and Red Crescent units, starting from the Al-Matouna checkpoint. This followed the outbreak of armed clashes in the city of As-Suwayda, stemming from a dispute between local groups that escalated into an exchange of gunfire and the use of various shells and weapons.
