Parliamentary Education Committee Chair Challenges Ministry Over Exam Timeline and Safety Concerns

The escalating disagreement between Parliament and the Ministry of Education over official examinations has intensified, with MP Edkar Traboulsi, rapporteur of the Parliamentary Education Committee, issuing a pointed rebuke to the ministry's position on the matter.

In a formal legal response and explanatory statement, Traboulsi rejected the ministry's suggestion that lawmakers must pass legislation to address concerns about the exams. He contended that such a claim represents an attempt by the ministry to sidestep accountability for its decisions.

According to Traboulsi, the authority to organize, modify, or cancel official examinations rests exclusively with the executive branch. These decisions are made through a decree approved by the Council of Ministers following a proposal from the Education Minister—a process that does not require parliamentary action. He pointed to the cancellation of the brevet certificate as a precedent for executive action in this domain.

The lawmaker raised constitutional objections to the ministry's conduct, specifically citing Circular No. 33, which was issued to implement the examination framework a full week before securing Council of Ministers approval. That approval came through Resolution No. 26 on May 22, 2026. Traboulsi characterized this sequence as a breach of constitutional principles that diminished the authority of the government as a collective body.

Traboulsi reiterated the Parliamentary Education Committee's formal recommendation: postpone examinations until the security environment stabilizes, or implement a single, standardized curriculum beginning in mid-July that takes security conditions into account. This unified approach, he argued, would shield both students and teachers from unnecessary security and logistical dangers.

"Student safety is not a testing ground," Traboulsi emphasized, urging the Education Ministry to cease deflecting responsibility and prioritize the public good through an immediate decision to delay the exams. He pledged that the Parliamentary Education Committee would persist in exercising its oversight powers and fulfilling its constitutional obligations to safeguard the academic year and student welfare.

In closing, Traboulsi directed questions to Defense Minister Michel Mansi and Interior Minister Ahmed Al-Hajjar, asking them to clarify whether they can credibly guarantee the safety of official examinations, student participants, families, educators, and examination facilities on the dates currently scheduled.