For the first time since the 2023 conflict, Gaza’s education system is reopening its doors. Hundreds of thousands of children are attending temporary classrooms built from tents, tarpaulins and salvaged materials, even as many families struggle to afford uniforms, notebooks and pens.
Scale of the challenge
UNICEF reports that 98% of Gaza’s schools were destroyed or damaged during the war. Education officials estimate that about 660,000 students have been without regular, in‑person schooling. The Ministry of Education, with support from international and local partners, has established dozens of temporary learning sites for the 2026‑27 academic year.
Students share their hopes
Moayed Abu Mustafa, a student in Khan Younis, said, “The last time I was in school was three years ago. Now we start a year of joy, happiness and success.” Despite sitting on the floor of a poorly ventilated tent and lacking proper shoes, a notebook and a pen, he remains determined to learn.
Fifteen‑year‑old Samar Abu Salmi, displaced with her family, added, “We studied on phones and didn’t see our teachers… now we are back pursuing our dream, from one tent to another.” She noted that before the war, school supplies were affordable, a stark contrast to today’s prices.
Living conditions in temporary schools
Many of the makeshift classrooms consist of simple mattresses and a single blackboard. Some sites are set up on sandy ground, while others share space with dozens of displaced families. Fourteen‑year‑old Yamen Abu Samra described his daily reality: “We used to wake up happy to go to school… now we are afraid of stray bullets, rockets, strikes, everything. I’m sitting in a tent with nothing but the sun and heat.”
Enrollment and ongoing support
Education officials expect at least 540,000 students to attend in‑person classes this year, with UNICEF providing essential assistance. Online learning will continue for those unable to join physical classes or who have left Gaza.
Broader context
Israeli forces still control more than 60% of Gaza despite a ceasefire that halted major fighting last year. Palestinian authorities report over 73,000 deaths in the ongoing assault, following an October 2023 attack by Hamas that killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel.
Local stationery trader Khaled Aliyan warned that Israeli import restrictions have driven up prices dramatically, noting that a notebook that once cost 3 shekels now costs 15 shekels.
Israel’s COGAT military agency, which regulates access to Gaza, declined comment on supply restrictions and recent strikes on schools.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
