After Thanaweya Amma Marathon

Thanaweya Amma exams have concluded for this year last week, but the anxiety, anticipation, and waiting did not end.

In fact, they may have begun now.

The waiting period—despite its apparent silence—is filled with tension and questions:

Will the total be sufficient?

Will the student's dream of entering the university or college of his dreams come true?

Thanaweya Amma students, may God help them and their parents, face a stressful academic year, under a system that we have suffered from for years, which places the burden on one year, one exam result, and a total that may be lost due to the stress and psychological state that the student is going through due to the pressures he faces from the family and society and the amount of private lessons that drain the family’s income.

Until now, and until next year, assessment is still based on a single final exam, which summarizes all the student's efforts in a single number. Although the new education law has been approved, implementation will begin the year after next. We are still awaiting a ministerial decision to clarify some of the vague points and ways of the implementation, which relies on cumulative assessment and various tracks.

The new law is an important step, marking a shift in the philosophy of education from  indoctrination to specialization and choice. However, it is still in its early stages and requires further explanation and awareness within schools, meaningful teacher training, and ensuring equal opportunities in university coordination across all tracks. Some of its details, such as imposing fees for improving grades, are concerning for low-income families and require a review to ensure fairness and equal opportunities for all.

This year's thanaweya Amma students are among the last two batches under the old system.

They lived under the pressure of their grades and endured a full year of stress and fear over their grades.

But the reality is different.

Behind every result is a story, and behind every number is an unseen tale.

Some students studied under difficult circumstances, and overcame them. Some faced psychological or family challenges, and others tried sincerely, and our hearts are with them all. What these students need is not just a certificate, but a kind word, to find someone who says to them, "I worked hard and tried, and success comes from God, and that's enough."

University isn't the end of the road, and grades aren't everything.

Success isn't measured solely by colleges, but by the path one chooses and finding a place in the job market, which is what matters most.