Efforts to resume teaching in Gaza face significant challenges after more than a year of disruption following the October 7, 2023, attack. Schools had just reopened when the conflict broke out, forcing a prolonged suspension of classes.
For over a year, formal education remained at a standstill. However, youth-led and community-driven initiatives, along with support from UNRWA, established makeshift schools—using tents and metal structures—mainly in displacement areas such as Mawasi Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Following the January 19 ceasefire, authorities began preparing for the resumption of the school year, which officially restarted on February 24. However, the situation remains fraught with difficulties.
One of the biggest obstacles is the presence of displaced families sheltering in school buildings, refusing to leave due to a lack of alternative housing. Teacher Ahmed Siyam from Gaza City’s Al-Nasr neighborhood told Asharq Al-Awsat that many families have nowhere else to go, especially after Israel blocked the entry of mobile homes and large quantities of tents, exacerbating the crisis.
While no exact figures exist on the number of displaced people in Gaza’s schools, estimates suggest that more than 1.2 million Palestinians remain homeless after Israeli airstrikes leveled residential areas across the enclave.
The Ministry of Education has urged displaced families to vacate classrooms to accommodate students, but with no viable alternatives, most have remained. In response, the ministry—working with UNRWA and other agencies—has set up temporary classrooms in open spaces. While this initiative has seen partial success, many parents have opted for online learning, which is also hindered by severe electricity and internet shortages.
Electricity and Connectivity Shortages
Since October 7, Gaza has suffered a complete blackout due to Israel’s blockade on fuel supplies for the enclave’s only power plant. The population has been forced to rely on solar energy, but Israeli strikes have repeatedly targeted solar panels, limiting their availability to those who can afford increasingly scarce supplies.
Wael Al-Halais, a resident of Al-Shati refugee camp in western Gaza, says his home lacks both electricity and internet, making it nearly impossible for his three children to continue their studies. He also fears for their safety, as the nearest makeshift school is 800 meters away, with no reliable transportation available.
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, Israel has targeted 1,166 educational institutions over the past 15 months, including 927 schools, universities, learning centers, and kindergartens—many of which were completely destroyed. The war has also claimed the lives of 12,800 students and 800 teachers and administrative staff.
Deputy Education Minister Khaled Abu Nada outlined a plan to salvage the 2023–2024 academic year while preparing for the 2024–2025 school year under exceptional measures, including a special session for high school exams (Tawjihi).
The ministry also aims to rehabilitate damaged schools, expand temporary learning spaces, enhance digital education, and introduce psychological support programs to help students cope with the trauma of war.
