Education in Shambles: Gaza's Children Struggle for Survival Amid War

Gaza has been under siege since October 2023, after Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, prompting Israel's campaign of retaliation. The war has left hundreds of thousands of students, from grade school to university, without access to education. Classes were suspended in October 2023, and schools were transformed into crowded shelters for those fleeing their homes. Even with negotiations for another ceasefire, it's unclear when schools in Gaza will be rebuilt, with the U.N. children's agency estimating that nearly 90% of schools will need substantial reconstruction.

Key Takeaways:

• Over 650,000 students, including 40,000 university students, have had no access to education since the start of the war, according to UNICEF.
• The closure of schools has removed a key social outlet for young people, exacerbating war, hunger, and displacement effects.
• Younger children have missed out on basic skills like reading and simple arithmetic, while older students have had their advanced subjects and graduation exams put on hold.
• The UN children's agency estimates that nearly 90% of schools will need substantial reconstruction before they can function again.
• Israel's bombardment and blockade have displaced 90% of Gaza's population, with school-age children forced to help their families find food, water, and firewood.
• Local education officials, working with UNICEF and aid groups, set up hundreds of learning spaces to provide education during the war, but nearly half have shut down since March.
• Children in Gaza have experienced unprecedented violence, fear, toxic stress, and anxiety, with online learning hindered by lack of central electricity, solar panels, and unreliable internet.

Statistics:

• Over 650,000 students have had no access to education since the start of the war (UNICEF).
• Nearly 40,000 university students were unable to take entry exams due to the war.
• 90% of Gaza's population has been displaced (UNICEF).
• 90% of schools will need substantial reconstruction before functioning again (UNICEF).
• Over 57,000 Palestinians have been killed, with over half being women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
• Israel's offensive has resulted in an estimated 1,200 civilian casualties and 251 abductions in the October 7 attack.

Sources:

• UNICEF.
• Gaza's Health Ministry.
• Associated Press article, "Education in Shambles: Gaza's Children Struggle for Survival Amid War."