How a French high school student changed the organization of the baccalaureate exam in the Middle East

Faced with the consequences of the war that has disrupted daily life in the Middle East for several months, a 17-year-old French high school student in Bahrain succeeded in having the baccalaureate exams cancelled in several French schools in the region. This was achieved through a petition gathering over a thousand signatures and a letter addressed directly to the French Ministry of Education. Emmanuel MacronYounes succeeded in giving a voice to many students facing a disrupted school year.

Since the start of the conflict, the young man and his classmates have had to cope with repeated alerts, class interruptions, and forced relocations. His family had even chosen to return temporarily to Toulouse so he could continue his schooling remotely. But when his school demanded students return to in-person classes at the beginning of May, anxiety grew as exams approached.

The generation of conflict is making its voice heard

Believing that the preparation conditions were no longer fair, Younes and a classmate launched a petition demanding the replacement of final exams with continuous assessment. Despite restrictions surrounding this type of initiative in some countries in the region, the movement quickly resonated with students in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. The high school student then wrote to the President of the Republic to draw attention to the difficulties faced by candidates.

A few days later, French authorities announced the cancellation of the baccalaureate and brevet exams in French schools in the Near East, the Middle East, and Mali. Results will be based on continuous assessment. This decision was met with relief by the students concerned. For Younes, already assured of passing his baccalaureate with honors, this mobilization will remain above all a symbol of a generation that refused to see its future jeopardized by the consequences of a conflict.