More than 1,000 students in Sderot and other Israeli towns bordering the Gaza Strip had to take the English bagrut exam this week, just as tensions were flaring up in the area.
Some of the 11th and 12th graders taking the test attend AMIT Sderot Gutwirth Junior and Senior High School, and they spoke with Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth about the difficulties they faced taking the test under such conditions. Some feared a siren would blare during the exam, while others said they simply couldn’t concentrate.
Right before the test began, the Education Ministry informed the students they would be getting an extra 25-40 minutes to finish the test.
“We definitely feel the security situation,” said Eden Malka, an 11th grade student at Gutwirth. “I can see smoke from my house, and sometimes the whole house shakes. We tried studying the other day, but there are always warnings and distractions. If there is a Code Red siren during the test, we won’t really be able to focus on it.”
There was indeed a siren during the exam, but it turned out to be a false alarm.
Another student, Shalev Assouline, who is in the 12th grade, said they have gotten used to the situation to a degree, but admitted it was hard to concentrate on studying. “We were glued to the TV,” she said. “We even thought maybe the test would be canceled due to the situation.”
She added that she worried the tensions between Israel and the Palestinians would affect her academic achievements and her class’s test results.
Netanel Naftalayev said that, after a period of relative quiet, things had gotten worse recently. “There was a siren a few months ago, and I was shocked,” he said. “Still, the situation is better now than it was five years ago.”
Alex Melichov, another 11th grader, said that despite the situation, he feels safe and knows the army is protecting Israel’s citizens. “We, the students born in 2001, were born into this reality. Despite all the booms, I’m not scared because I know I’m being protected.”
The students know where the secure space is in the school and know how to get there calmly and safely, said Tamar Elimelech, the school’s pedagogical coordinator, who is responsible for administering the bagrut exams.
“The students got a message telling them they would get extra time for the test of they need it,” she said. “I hope there will be peace and security here soon.”
