Full Breakdown
Gaza’s Struggle to Rebuild Education Amid War-Ravaged Schools
By Drooid · · How we work
The Push to Reopen Schools
The new term begins September 19 in Gaza, but many children cannot attend. Families such as Israa Yasin’s in Al Mawasi lack notebooks, shoes or uniforms after three years of blockade-induced poverty. Classes operate in tarpaulin-covered tents with damaged desks, and pupils often write on the floor. At Al Hadara school, principal Alaa al-Astal runs two-shift schedules—three days for boys, three days for girls, three three-hour sessions per day—using roughly 50 teachers for more than 2,200 registered students in a space under 1,000 m².
Background and Scale of Damage
Before the October 7 2023 offensive, Gaza had one of the Arab world’s lowest illiteracy rates (2 % of those over 15). UNRWA reports that 92 % of school buildings are totally or partially destroyed, and 60 % of school-age children lack access to in-person classes. Between October 7 2023 and February 17 2026, ministry data indicate more than 20,000 students and about 1,000 education-sector employees were killed.
Data and Statistics
- 658,000 children are deprived of proper education (UNICEF).
- Attendance fell from 200 days per year to 60; weekly class hours dropped from 30 to 12 (Ministry of Education 2023-2026 report).
- 350,000 students are expected to enroll this year, a 30 % increase over 2025’s 270,000 registrations (Ahmed al-Najjar).
- UNICEF estimates $114 million is needed for education aid; the funding gap is roughly 50 %.
Official Statements & Responses
Ahmed al-Najjar, director general of public and international relations at the Ministry of Education, describes the system as operating under a “flexible education” model that blends surviving schools, temporary learning centers, tents and virtual classes. The Ministry has launched an Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) for grades two through nine to diagnose lost skills and provide intensive remediation. UNICEF is training principals and teachers on the program and assessing student progress.
UNRWA reiterates that education is “a right for every child” and highlights its provision of temporary and alternative learning spaces, remote education and self-learning materials despite displacement and insecurity.
Criticism & Opposition
Independent research by IMPACT-se, cited in a Jerusalem Report analysis, alleges that UNRWA classrooms have used a Palestinian Authority curriculum containing material that glorifies violence. The United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded that settler attacks have “instrumentalized children” as part of a coercive strategy. A UN review led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna labeled the teaching materials a “grave violation of neutrality” and recommended their removal. The recommendations have seen limited implementation, prompting several governments, including the United States, to cut or suspend funding to UNRWA.
Turkey, speaking for a coalition of 27 states, declared that “UNRWA has no place in the new Gaza,” calling for a re-imagined education model that discards the “host-country” curriculum in favor of peace-building content.
On-the-Ground Reports
In al-Mughayyir, residents such as Abu Naem report that settlers have moved closer to the village since April, driving sheep past school windows while Israeli soldiers stand nearby. Ambulance driver Hadi al-Naasan notes that settler attacks on children have increased dramatically in 2026 compared with 2025.
What’s Next
The Ministry plans to expand the Accelerated Learning Program and continue training educators with UNICEF support, while UNRWA seeks additional donor contributions to close its $114 million funding gap. Implementation of the UN review’s recommendations and the establishment of a neutral curriculum remain pending, with international donors and regional actors expected to shape the next phase of Palestinian education.
