Gaza Begins Second School Year Without Classes, Raising Concerns About Children’s Futures

Gaza begins its second school year without classes, raising concerns about children's futures. Learn more about the impact on education and developmen

Gaza’s Schools in Ruins as Children Miss Nearly a Year of Education Amid Ongoing Conflict

 

Nearly 625,000 school-age children in Gaza have missed almost a full year of education since schools shut down in the wake of Israel's military response to Hamas' October 7 attack. With ongoing conflict and stalled negotiations to end the war, there is no clear indication when these children can return to their classrooms.

 

The Global Education Cluster, a coalition of aid organizations led by UNICEF and Save the Children, reports that over 90% of Gaza's school buildings have been damaged by Israeli airstrikes. Of these, approximately 85% are in need of major reconstruction, leaving many structures unusable for years to come. Gaza's universities have also sustained significant damage. Israel has claimed that Hamas militants operate out of these schools, adding complexity to their rehabilitation.

 

The humanitarian crisis is profound. Around 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, many of whom are living in overcrowded tent camps without access to basic sanitation or water. Some families have sought refuge in schools, which have been converted into temporary shelters by UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.

 

Mo’men Qudeh, a father of five, describes how his children, once outstanding students, are now living in a tent in a cemetery in Khan Younis after fleeing their home. The family scavenges through the rubble to sell materials for a small income. Even Qudeh’s four-year-old son contributes, gathering chunks of concrete to sell for constructing new graves. Despite the emotional and physical toll on his children, Qudeh has no choice but to rely on them for help.

 

"I cry for them when I see them with torn hands," Qudeh said, describing the children's exhaustion and sleepless nights due to pain.

 

Aid organizations, such as UNICEF, are making efforts to provide alternatives to formal schooling. They have set up 175 temporary learning centers, serving about 30,000 students with the help of 1,200 volunteer teachers. These centers focus on literacy, numeracy, and mental health support, but the reach is limited due to a shortage of educational supplies like pens, books, and paper.

 

In an attempt to offer respite, UNRWA launched a “back to learning” program in 45 of its shelter schools in August, providing children with activities such as games, arts, and music. However, these programs are only temporary solutions to a larger, systemic problem that could take years to resolve.

 

Gaza’s children face not only an academic loss but also severe emotional distress. Before the war, Gaza boasted a nearly 98% literacy rate, and education was a high priority among Palestinians. However, the ongoing conflict has disrupted this, leaving children emotionally scarred by the trauma of displacement, bombings, and the deaths or injuries of family members.

 

Parents and aid workers report that children are showing signs of psychological strain. Some become withdrawn, while others display increased agitation. Many children express a deep desire to return to school, though the future remains uncertain. One child’s concern, shared by a UNICEF official, underscored the uncertainty: “I can go back, can’t I?” he asked, his voice filled with panic.

 

The 11-month-long Israeli offensive has devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, worsening the humanitarian crisis. Diseases are spreading, and malnutrition is on the rise. More than 40,000 Palestinians have died since the war began, with children among the hardest hit.

 

In addition to the destruction in Gaza, Palestinian education in the West Bank has also been severely disrupted. According to UNICEF, between 8% and 20% of schools in the West Bank have been closed daily since the start of the conflict. When schools do open, many children are unable to attend due to movement restrictions or fear of violence.

 

Meanwhile, families displaced by the war struggle to provide their children with any form of informal education. One grandmother, Umm Ahmed Abu Awja, now living in a makeshift shelter at a school in Deir al-Balah, expressed despair for her grandchildren’s future. “The children’s future is lost,” she said. “If they return to school, they have to start from the beginning.”

 

As the conflict grinds on, Gaza’s children remain caught in the crossfire, their education and future uncertain.