Hundreds of thousands of students in Gaza resumed in-person schooling on Saturday for the first time in nearly three years, despite significant challenges posed by widespread destruction and limited resources. The reopening comes after a prolonged period of conflict that severely damaged the territory's education infrastructure and disrupted regular learning.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), approximately 98% of schools in Gaza were either destroyed or damaged during recent hostilities. Education officials estimate that around 660,000 students have been unable to participate in face-to-face education during this period. Ibrahim Ramadan, director of education for East Khan Younis, said the war claimed the lives of about 22,000 students and more than 770 education workers, including 532 teachers.
The Ministry of Education in Gaza, supported by international and local organizations, has begun the 2026-27 academic year by setting up dozens of temporary schools constructed from tents, tarpaulins, sheet metal, and wood. These makeshift classrooms are often situated on sandy ground and lack basic furnishings, with some spaces accommodating displaced families alongside students.
Fifteen-year-old Samar Abu Salmi, who now lives with her family in a tent, described returning to school after studying remotely through phones. She highlighted the difficulty her family faces in affording essential supplies such as notebooks, pens, and uniforms, which were once readily available and affordable before the conflict. “Before the war, everything was available for us — notebooks, pens, goods, clothes, outings,” she said.
Other students expressed mixed emotions about returning to physical classrooms. Fourteen-year-old Yemen Abu Samra said that while students once looked forward to attending school, they now fear violence, including stray bullets and airstrikes. “Now, I’m sitting in a tent that has absolutely nothing, just the sun and the heat,” he remarked.
Education officials expect roughly 540,000 students to attend classes in these improvised settings, which include private schools, temporary learning centers, and other educational points, with ongoing support from Unicef. Online learning opportunities remain available for those unable to attend in person or who have left Gaza during the conflict.
The economic impact of border restrictions has also affected access to school supplies. Khaled Aliyan, a stationery trader, noted that Israeli import controls have limited availability and increased prices, further challenging families’ ability to secure necessary educational materials.
While the reopening marks a tentative step toward restoring educational normalcy in Gaza, the conditions remain precarious, underscoring the broader humanitarian and infrastructural challenges facing the enclave.