Since the outbreak of war on Gaza in October 2023, education has become one of the primary casualties of the conflict. Reports indicate that over 85% of schools in Gaza have sustained direct damage, rendering most of them partially or completely out of service. This widespread destruction has deprived nearly 660,000 students of their fundamental right to education and led to the death of more than 12,000 school-aged children, along with hundreds of teachers and education sector workers.

Destruction of Educational Infrastructure

Israeli airstrikes have directly targeted schools, resulting in the destruction of 278 institutions—187 operated by the Ministry of Education and 91 run by UNRWA. Among these, 23 government schools and 5 UNRWA schools have been completely demolished.

Remote Learning: Limited Solutions Amid Crisis

To continue the educational process, UNRWA launched a hybrid learning program in January 2025, combining remote and in-person education. To date, 277,716 children have enrolled in the program and received instruction in core subjects. However, these efforts face major obstacles due to power outages and a widespread lack of electronic devices among students.

Loss of Two Academic Years and a Surge in Illiteracy

The war has suspended formal education for nearly two consecutive academic years, with a total of 300 school days lost as of April 2025. This disruption has caused severe educational regression and signs of increasing illiteracy among young children.

Local Initiatives to Salvage Education

Despite the crisis, teachers and volunteers have established makeshift classrooms in tents and shelters, using minimal resources to deliver lessons. Some have also turned to social media to provide educational and emotional support for students.

The Psychological Toll on Children and Educators

Beyond academic setbacks, children are suffering deep psychological trauma from losing loved ones, seeing their schools destroyed, and living in constant uncertainty. Teachers, too, struggle to balance teaching with supporting emotionally distressed students.

An Urgent Call for International Intervention

Gaza’s education crisis requires urgent global action to rebuild infrastructure and offer psychological and academic support. Without swift intervention, an entire generation risks being lost to conflict and neglect.