Sisters who fled Syria two years ago complete Leaving Cert

Two teenage Syrian refugees who came to Ireland two years ago with little English received their Leaving Cert results on Wednesday.

Diana Shakerbi (18) earned 560 points with her sister Loujin (17) Shakerbi receiving 435 points.

Speaking to The Irish Times about the exam, Diana said: "It was difficult, it required so much time, study and work. And especially the English, it was really difficult as I've been here in Ireland only two years.

The sisters said they found adapting to Irish society and the English language difficult as “everything was so new”.

They fled their home in Aleppo in Syria with their parents two years ago and have been living in Kildare since arriving in Ireland.

Both would prefer to be doctors like their parents with Loujin saying that she may repeat the Leaving Cert in order to get enough points for a medicine course.

Diana on the other hand took her HPat exam and scored in the 70th percentile but she needed to score in the 80th percentile. She is not sure if she will get on to the course this year and she might have to repeat it next year.

“My parents are doctors and I want to be a doctor, the horrible situation in Syria made me want to be a doctor more because I can go and help people,” said Diana.

The city of Aleppo is one of the regions of Syria most devastated by the ongoing war and the sisters still have relatives living there.

Loujin said that her life before the war broke out was amazing and she misses it. She hopes to be able to go back to Syria some day.