Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to ensure the continuity of education for 90,000 high school students in Gaza through the successful administration of electronic General Secondary Examinations.

The agreement, supported by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), constitutes Phase Two of EAA Foundation’s flagship initiative, 'Rebuilding Hope for Gaza'.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Palestinian Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Amjad Saad Suleiman Barham, Gaza education portfolio manager Ali Nairat, QFFD director general Fahad al-Sulaiti, EAA's acting CEO Mohammed al-Kubaisi, UNDP administrator's special representative Chitose Noguchi, UNDP's programmes portfolio manager Moataz Dawabsheh, and Palestine ambassador to Qatar Fayez Majed Abu al-Rab.

As per the agreement, EAA Foundation and its partners with support from QFFD will provide 100 completely furnished educational spaces with dependable internet and steady power supplies. Safe digital testing platforms will be established as part of the project. In order to facilitate online exams even in the context of the current crisis, the project is complemented by the provision of 10,000 tablets to students in need through donation from Heal Palestine and the Palestinian American Medical Association and the Ministry of Education Partners.

As many as 30,000 students will receive structured academic support through remedial classes, practice tests, and orientation workshops. Psychosocial support services will also be provided to improve mental health and resilience. The project, which spans this year and the next, uses five exam cycles to target the Tawjihi cohorts. These centres will develop into long-term digital learning hubs thanks to a sustainability plan.

Minister Barham said: “We extend our deep appreciation to Education Above All Foundation for their vital support, which ensures the readiness to conduct Tawjihi exams for Gaza’s students from the cohorts, should the conditions allow. The Ministry is committed to enabling both current and past Tawjihi students to sit for their exams in suitable conditions, backed by necessary technical and logistical requirements. We also thank UNDP for its continuous support to the education sector in Palestine.”

Al-Kubaisi, noted: “This agreement represents a pivotal moment in our collective commitment to rebuilding hope and creating sustainable change in crisis-affected communities. We are honoured to continue our partnership with UNDP, whose expertise and dedication align with our mission. With support from our strategic partner the QFFD, we are able us to empower individuals, uplift communities, and restore opportunities for future generations.”

“Through this partnership, we are not only helping students in Gaza reach a crucial academic milestone, but we are also building the foundation for a more inclusive, connected, and resilient education system under tremendous challenges. By transforming temporary exam centres into permanent digital learning hubs, we are ensuring that the hope and opportunity we create today will continue to empower Gaza’s students for years to come.” Noguchi from UNDP added.