1. We are A Level students in Qatar calling on examination boards to urgently reconsider their decision to proceed with the May/June 2026 examinations in our country(Qatar),despite granting cancellations or alternative arrangements in other parts of the Middle East.

Students across the region — including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iran, Palestine, and Iraq — are living under the strain of ongoing conflict, instability, and geopolitical tension. Airspace closures, travel disruptions, and widespread uncertainty are affecting daily life across the entire region, including within Qatar.

While we acknowledge that examination boards have recognized these challenges in some countries by cancelling exams or offering alternative assessment routes, it is deeply unfair and inconsistent to exclude Qatar from these considerations. The regional situation does not operate within national borders; the same atmosphere of anxiety, fear, and instability affects students across neighboring countries, including those studying in Qatar.

Even in areas not directly impacted by violence, students are experiencing significant psychological stress, difficulty concentrating, and disrupted preparation. A Level examinations are among the most demanding academic qualifications, and expecting students in Qatar to perform at their highest level under these circumstances places them at a clear and unjust disadvantage — especially when their peers in nearby countries are being assessed under alternative, more flexible systems.

This issue is not simply about whether exams can physically take place in Qatar. It is about whether students can realistically prepare for them under current conditions. Many students are struggling with focus, motivation, and wellbeing due to the constant tension in the region.

By allowing cancellations or non-exam routes in some Middle Eastern countries while requiring students in Qatar to sit full examinations, examination boards risk creating a serious imbalance in fairness. Students following the same curriculum, in the same region, are being treated unequally despite facing highly similar challenges.

We are not asking for global cancellation. We are asking for fairness and consistency. If alternative arrangements — such as coursework-based assessment, teacher-assessed grades, predicted grades, or adjusted grade boundaries — are appropriate for some countries in the region, they must also be considered for Qatar.

Examination boards consistently emphasize fairness, integrity, and student wellbeing. We urge them to uphold these principles by extending the same consideration to students in Qatar and ensuring that no group is disadvantaged simply because of inconsistent regional policies.

We respectfully call for the cancellation of May/June 2026 A Level examinations in Qatar, or the immediate implementation of fair alternative assessment methods that reflect the reality students in our country are facing.