Gaza war continues to shut hundreds of thousands out of class
Almost 625,000 children in the enclave have already lost an entire school year following the 7 October 2023 terror attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on communities in southern Israel and the ensuing Israeli military operation in Gaza.
They are now joined by more than 45,000 six-year-old children poised to enter first grade, elevating the risk of a second year without any classroom education, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said.
“Children in the Gaza Strip have lost their homes, family members, friends, safety, and routine,” said Adele Khodr, the agency’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Director.
“They have also lost the sanctuary and stimulation provided by school, putting their bright futures at risk of being dimmed by this terrible conflict.”
The fighting has had a severe impact on education infrastructure. Many schools-turned-IDP shelters, including those run by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), have been damaged or destroyed.
With every school shuttered since October last year, there was no graduating class in the Strip – the first such occurrence in decades, UNICEF noted. About 39,000 students missed their final year of school and could not take the Tawjihi exams.
For older children, the disruption extends beyond missed education opportunity.
Without schooling, young people are at an increased risk of exploitation, child labour, early marriage, and other forms of abuse. Most importantly they are at risk of dropping out of school permanently, the agency said.
For younger children, the absence of schooling threatened their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Parents report significant mental health and psychosocial impacts among children, including feelings of increased frustration and isolation.
To respond to this situation in the Gaza Strip, UNICEF and its partners set up 39 temporary learning spaces in the enclave, serving over 12,400 students. The ag also offers recreational activities, emergency learning kits, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to children, youth, caregivers, and teachers in shelters.
“We must find ways to restart learning and rebuild schools to uphold the right to education of the next generations in the State of Palestine,” Ms. Khodr said.
“Children need stability to cope with the trauma they have experienced, and the opportunity to develop and reach their full potential.”