Gaza’s Education Crisis: Over 600,000 Children Left Out of School as Buildings Lie in Ruins

Gaza’s Schools in Ruins, Children Struggle to Learn

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Bissan Younis stood amid tents and rubble, describing a familiar scene across much of Gaza: destroyed school buildings and improvised encampments where classrooms once stood. The tiny cluster of tents near her home could not accommodate her teenage son, Kareem.

“Most of the schools are destroyed. Every school I go to tells me there is no room,” Younis told The Associated Press.

More than 600,000 Palestinian children in Gaza have missed nearly two years of schooling during the war between Israel and Hamas. Instead of classrooms and play, many children have been repeatedly displaced by airstrikes and shelling and spent long stretches searching for water, food and safety for their families.

Humanitarian Response and Limits

With a ceasefire largely holding since last month, humanitarian agencies are urgently trying to reopen dozens of temporary learning sites. UNICEF warns that education must resume quickly to prevent long-term harm to children’s development and mental health. John Crickx, a UNICEF spokesman, said that without schooling in the coming weeks there could be “terrible consequences for an entire generation.”

UNICEF estimates more than 630,000 Palestinian children missed school during the war; Crickx says roughly 100,000 children have so far returned to classes. Separately, UNRWA is providing instruction through contracted teachers to about 40,000 students. Before the war, UNRWA schools served roughly half of Gaza’s children, but many of those buildings have been converted into shelters.

Key Obstacles: Space, Supplies, Trauma

Finding safe spaces for learning is a major challenge. Dozens of school buildings were badly damaged or destroyed, and many remaining schools are still home to displaced families. UNRWA reports around 75,000 people remain sheltering in its schools.

Logistical constraints also hamper recovery: supplies ranging from concrete for repairs to basic stationery have been difficult to get into Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023. UNICEF says some items have been designated by Israeli authorities as “non-critical, non-life saving,” and COGAT had no immediate comment on allowing additional school materials into the territory.

Even children who return to makeshift classrooms carry heavy psychological burdens. “The level of trauma among the people of Gaza, including children, is horrific,” said Juliette Touma, UNRWA’s communications director.

Long-term Costs and Risks

U.N. agencies are still assessing the full scale of damage. With reconstruction not yet underway, U.N. experts estimate rebuilding could take years and cost around $70 billion. Aid officials warn the prolonged interruption of schooling risks creating a “lost generation” and increases vulnerability to exploitation — including child marriage, child labor and recruitment by armed groups.

Displaced parents like Tahreer al-Oweini say they feel guilty but have little choice. Living inside a classroom covered in tarps and with torn walls, she is struggling to secure places for her three daughters and a son. “The children forgot everything they learned,” she said. “They have lived in fear or horror.”

Despite the bleak situation, many families remain hopeful. Parents emphasize the importance of education and aspire for their children to become doctors, engineers and other professionals — ambitions that depend on restoring sustained access to safe, quality schooling.

Reporting contributions from Beirut, Khan Younis and Jerusalem were noted in the original reporting.