Students in Hebron celebrating their success in the Injaz general matriculation exam announced on Wednesday. (WAFA photo/Samar Badr)

RAMALLAH, July 12, 2017 (WAFA) – More than 67 per cent of the students who sat for this year’s general matriculation exam in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip have passed the crucial test that would qualify them to enroll in universities at home and around the world.

Minister of Education Sabri Saidam announced on Wednesday in Ramallah the long-awaited for results, which was immediately followed with jubilant celebrations in the streets and at homes, shooting of fire crackers and sounding of car horns by those who passed the exam.

According to the results, 67.42 per cent of the 70,237 students who sat for this year’s exam have passed. Saidam said the rate was 2.58 per cent higher than last year’s results.

The title and content of this year’s exam was changed from the traditional decades-old “tawjihi” system to the new “injaz” general matriculation exam.

Saidam said the new system allows students who either did not pass certain subjects or want to improve their grades in a certain topic to sit for another round of exam on August 5.

President Mahmoud Abbas has congratulated the students who passed the exam and wished those who failed it better luck next time.

M.K.