Full Breakdown
Gaza’s Children Return to Tent Classrooms After Three Years of War-Driven Disruption
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Return to Face-to-Face Learning in Gaza’s Tent Schools
On September 19 the new academic year began across the Gaza Strip, marking the first large-scale return to in-person schooling since the October 2023 war. The Palestinian Ministry of Education reported that about 541,000 students entered temporary learning spaces that day. Classes are held in tents, tarpaulins and other makeshift structures, often without desks, chairs or basic stationery.
Background and Context
The October 2023 conflict displaced almost the entire Gaza population and destroyed most school infrastructure. UNICEF estimates that 98 percent of school buildings were damaged, with 93 percent needing major repair. A cease-fire in October 2025 reduced large-scale hostilities, but intermittent Israeli bombing continued, including the killing of two students in early September 2026.
Data and Statistics
- 541,000 students enrolled in face-to-face education on September 19 (Ministry of Education).
- 660,000 children have been deprived of regular in-person schooling since the war began (Gaza education officials).
- Approximately 700,000 children aged four to 17 missed formal schooling for three years; 420,000 had no face-to-face learning at all (UNICEF).
- UNICEF-supported tent schools house more than 300 pupils at Ahbab Shujayea School, many without notebooks or stationery (director Inaam al-Batreekhi).
On-the-Ground Reports
Parents and teachers describe daily life in cramped tents. In al-Katiba, Gaza City, Rana Totah, 30, walked her two sons to a municipal school that occupies ten tents. In Khan Younis, 15-year-old Moayed Abu Mustafa expressed joy at returning, despite sitting on the floor in a poorly ventilated tent. Director Inaam al-Batreekhi noted that classes run from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. because of security concerns, and rain would make the ground-level spaces unusable.
Official Statements & Responses
The Ministry announced a dual-track system for the 2026-27 year: in-person schooling for students inside Gaza and virtual learning for those displaced abroad. It plans about 700 educational points and 25 temporary schools to be handed over soon, alongside the launch of an “eSchool” platform. UNICEF continues to supply limited stationery, while UNRWA operates roughly 100,000 of the enrolled students. Aid groups have highlighted severe shortages of notebooks, pencils and chairs and have called for easing of Israeli import restrictions that have driven the price of a notebook from 3 to 15 shekels.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Honestly, today was a beautiful day for me. It even felt like Eid,” — Rana Totah
- “The last time I have been to school was three years ago. Now, we are starting the school year, it is year of joy, happiness and success,” — Moayed Abu Mustafa
- “Before the war, everything was available for us – notebooks, pens, goods, clothes, outings, things that we could get cheaply,” — Samar Abu Salmi
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Ministry cites 541,000 students attending in-person classes on September 19, while a separate official estimate mentioned about 540,000 expected attendees. Both figures are close but not identical, reflecting uncertainty in enrollment data amid ongoing displacement. Detailed information on the timeline for rebuilding permanent school structures remains unavailable.