Gaza Students Begin New School Year in Makeshift Tents Amidst Destruction

The Gaza Strip is commencing the 2026-2027 academic year under unprecedented circumstances, with education, a globally recognized right, becoming a challenging struggle for both students and teachers. The Israeli occupation's destruction of most schools and the conversion of remaining ones into shelters for displaced people have forced the use of tents as an emergency alternative for classrooms. These tent schools lack basic educational facilities, with students sitting on the ground without desks or blackboards. They are exposed to harsh weather conditions, making the tents unbearably hot in summer and extremely cold in winter, severely impacting concentration and learning.

Beyond the physical environment, a significant cumulative educational and academic loss is unfolding. Students have been out of school for approximately three consecutive years, widening the knowledge gap and leading to the loss of fundamental concepts in reading, arithmetic, and science, thereby lowering the academic level of an entire generation. This tragedy is compounded for injured students and those with disabilities, including the blind and deaf, who are completely excluded from the educational system after their specialized schools were destroyed, with no accessible environments or facilities provided in displacement centers or tents.

Psychologically, a vast number of children suffer from deep trauma and constant fear, recalling scenes of bombing and the loss of loved ones. This leads to persistent sadness and distraction, hindering their ability to learn and making psychological support a priority equal to education itself. Meanwhile, Palestinian teachers face dire living conditions due to salary crises and resource scarcity, negatively affecting their performance despite their commitment to teaching under extreme hardship.

The dire situation is further exacerbated by poverty and hunger, preventing families from providing adequate meals, stationery, or clothing. Students also face risks from destroyed and rough roads, long walks to school, and the spread of infectious diseases due to overcrowding in tents.

The Ministry of Education in Gaza stated that this catastrophic reality requires urgent international and humanitarian intervention to protect the educational system, provide psychological and financial support to educators, and find radical solutions to address educational loss and support individuals with disabilities, thereby saving future generations from being lost.