Back to school in Gaza: Learning in tents after years of disruption

What Happened

On September 19, approximately 541,000 students resumed education in Gaza through makeshift tent classrooms, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education. This return to face-to-face learning follows nearly three years of disruption caused by the conflict that began in October 2023. UNICEF reports that 98 percent of school buildings in Gaza have been damaged, with 93 percent requiring major rehabilitation or full reconstruction. Teachers, supported by UNICEF programs, are conducting lessons in temporary facilities in areas such as al-Katiba, Gaza City, despite severe shortages of stationery, textbooks, and furniture.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The resumption of schooling highlights the severe humanitarian impact of the conflict on Gaza's youth, with over 700,000 children having missed formal education for nearly three years. The reliance on tent-based learning underscores the ongoing collapse of public infrastructure and the challenges of maintaining basic social services amidst persistent security threats and the displacement of the majority of the population.

Watch For

Monitor reports on the sustainability of these temporary learning spaces, potential further damage to educational sites from ongoing military activity, and the ability of aid organizations to supply necessary materials to prevent another interruption in the academic year.