UNICEF Aims to Return 330,000 Gaza Children to Learning Amid Widespread School Damage
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
UNICEF is working to provide learning opportunities for approximately 330,000 children in Gaza, where 98% of schools are damaged. The initiative focuses on temporary learning spaces like tents, offering basic subjects and psychological support amidst ongoing challenges.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- 98% of Gaza schools damaged, over 93% need major repairs or rebuilding.
- UNICEF aims to get 330,000 Gaza children back into learning spaces in 2026.
- Learning occurs in tents focusing on core subjects due to destroyed infrastructure.
- Children also require significant psychological support due to war trauma.
- West Bank education faces disruptions from military actions and checkpoints.
Nearly 700,000 school-aged children in the Gaza Strip have been deprived of formal, in-person education for nearly three years, according to Kazem Abu Khalaf, a UNICEF spokesperson. He stated that approximately 98% of Gaza's school buildings have sustained varying degrees of damage, with over 93% requiring extensive rehabilitation or complete reconstruction. Direct strikes hit about 81% of schools, rendering many unsafe or unusable. Furthermore, some intact schools have been repurposed as shelters for displaced people, complicating any return to learning.
Educational materials were restricted from entering Gaza for an extended period. A turning point occurred in January 2026 when some supplies began to arrive. UNICEF launched a "Return to Learning" campaign, acknowledging the dire state of educational facilities, rather than a "Return to Schools" initiative. The plan aims to re-engage approximately 336,000 children in learning spaces during 2026, with UNICEF currently supporting around 330,000 children.
These learning spaces are often large tents and do not offer traditional schooling. They focus on core subjects like Arabic, English, math, and science for limited daily hours, operating in shifts to accommodate more children. While whiteboards and some materials are provided, and 290,000 school bags have been distributed, significant challenges remain in supplying furniture and equipment. Some initiatives are repurposing materials from cargo pallets to create makeshift tables.
Beyond academics, UNICEF emphasizes the critical need for psychological support for Gaza's children, nearly half the population, who have endured immense trauma. The "Return to Learning" program also seeks to restore stability and routine to their lives. In the West Bank, the educational situation is less severe but faces disruptions from military operations, closures, and checkpoints, particularly affecting refugee camps. Around 12,000 students have been displaced from camps like Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams, and are being integrated into nearby schools. Over 800,000 students in the West Bank are affected by the security situation, with about 150,000 needing to cross checkpoints to reach school.
