Gaza’s shattered schools leave tens of thousands without education

Unrwa says it is running 330 makeshift learning spaces inside 59 overcrowded shelters across the Gaza Strip, trying to provide some form of schooling to more than 44,000 children who have been uprooted by Israel’s assault.

The agency notes that these improvised classrooms lack even the most basic facilities, underscoring how Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure has pushed an entire generation into educational limbo.

Earlier, in Ramallah, Education Minister Amjad Barham described the situation as catastrophic. “We are talking about the buildings of 427 schools, some of which were partially demolished, while 293 schools were taken out of service and completely destroyed,” he said. He added that the few remaining government and Unrwa schools now shelter displaced families whose homes have been levelled.

Palestinian officials say the collapse of Gaza’s education sector is a direct consequence of Israel’s relentless bombing campaign, which has targeted not only homes and hospitals but also the institutions meant to protect children’s futures.