Over 45,000 Children in Gaza Deprived of Education as Conflict Continues, UNICEF Warns

While the new academic year was due to begin today across the State of Palestine, schools in Gaza remain closed due to the violence, affecting thousands of students, teachers, and schools.

As the school year begins across the Middle East, at least 45,000 six-year-old children in the Gaza Strip are unable to start their education, with many displaced and struggling to survive amidst ongoing conflict. While the new academic year was due to begin today across the State of Palestine, schools in Gaza remain closed due to the violence, affecting thousands of students, teachers, and schools.

These first graders join 625,000 children who have already missed an entire school year. With the conflict showing no signs of abating, there is a high risk of these students losing a second year of education. According to Adele Khodr, UNICEF's Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, the children of Gaza have not only lost their homes and loved ones but also their access to education, jeopardizing their futures.

Since October 2023, every school in Gaza has been shut down. Among those affected are 39,000 students who missed their final year of school and were unable to take their crucial Tawjihi exams, marking the first time in decades that such a disruption has occurred in Gaza’s education system.

The lack of schooling has led to anxiety and uncertainty for older children, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, child labor, early marriage, and other forms of abuse. For younger children, the absence of education is severely impacting their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Parents are reporting significant mental health issues in their children, such as increased frustration and isolation.

Children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are also affected. Since October 2023, increased violence and movement restrictions have hindered education for 782,000 students. Data from the Ministry of Education shows that between 8% and 20% of schools in the West Bank have been closed on any given day due to the conflict. Even when schools are open, fear of violence and mental health concerns are causing many students to skip school.

Attacks on schools in both Gaza and the West Bank have escalated in recent weeks. In Gaza, 84% of schools require full reconstruction or extensive rehabilitation. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, there have been 69 attacks on schools and over 2,350 incidents affecting schools, students, and teachers.

Despite the critical need, education remains one of the most underfunded sectors in humanitarian appeals. In the State of Palestine, UNICEF’s education programs face a staggering 88% funding gap. To address the crisis, UNICEF and its partners have established 39 Temporary Learning Spaces in Gaza, serving over 12,400 students. Additionally, emergency learning kits, recreational activities, and Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) are being offered to children, youth, caregivers, and teachers.

UNICEF’s Khodr emphasized the urgent need to restart education and rebuild schools, calling for all barriers to aid and education supplies to be lifted. “Above all else, we need a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and de-escalation in the West Bank so all children can return to the classroom and damaged schools can be rebuilt,” she said.