Struggling Gaza students forgo dreams as they scramble for essential food supplies
In the war-torn enclave of Gaza, the pursuit of education has become a daunting challenge for many students. Due to ongoing conflict and food scarcity, the primary ambition of students like Ali has shifted from academic success to finding food to survive.
The Palestinian Minister of Education, Amjad Barham, has accused Israel of systematically destroying schools and universities, with 293 out of 307 schools being destroyed completely or partially. This destruction has disrupted the education of an entire generation, including Ali who resides among the ruins of the Islamic University, now converted into a shelter for displaced people.
Yasmine Al-Za'aneen, a 19-year-old student, and Saja Adwan, an honors student of Gaza's Azhar Institute, share similar stories of interrupted studies. Yasmine sorts through books that have survived Israeli strikes, while Saja takes notes on the meagre educational papers she has left to keep her mind occupied. Under siege, much of Gaza, already suffering from poverty and high unemployment, has been demolished due to the war.
Emergency education continues via the UNRWA's Temporary Learning Spaces (TLSs) established in 62 schools that also serve as shelters, benefiting over 56,000 children. However, these efforts cannot replace formal schooling amid ongoing humanitarian challenges. At the university level, over 80% of Gaza's university buildings have been physically destroyed or severely damaged.
The destruction and repeated attacks on schools and universities have prompted global solidarity protests demanding academic and financial boycotts of Israeli institutions complicit in the conflict. Barham states that Israel's actions aim to extinguish hope among Gazan children.
Despite these efforts, there is no immediate hope for relief and a return to the classroom for students like Yasmine and Saja. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in the death of 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel plans a new Gaza offensive, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, further threatening the already fragile educational institutions.
References:
- UNRWA (2025). Gaza Emergency Education Response. [online] Available at: https://www.unrwa.org/emergency/gaza-emergency-education-response [Accessed 15 May 2025].
- UN OCHA (2025). Gaza Education Sector Under Siege: 97% of Schools Damaged, Requiring Major Rehabilitation or Complete Reconstruction. [online] Available at: https://www.ochaopt.org/content/gaza-education-sector-under-siege-97-schools-damaged-requiring-major-rehabilitation-or-complete-reconstruction [Accessed 15 May 2025].
- Amnesty International (2024). Israel/Gaza: Schools Attacked, Children Killed. [online] Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/07/israelgaza-schools-attacked-children-killed/ [Accessed 15 May 2025].
- Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights (2025). The Destruction of Gaza's Universities: A Systematic Attack on Higher Education. [online] Available at: https://www.almezan.org/en/publications/the-destruction-of-gaza%E2%80%99s-universities-a-systematic-attack-on-higher-education/ [Accessed 15 May 2025].
- BDS Movement (2024). Academic Boycott of Israel. [online] Available at: https://bdsmovement.net/boycott [Accessed 15 May 2025].
- The latest news indicates a dismal picture for education in Gaza, with the destruction of 293 out of 307 schools, as reported by the Palestinian Minister of Education Amjad Barham.
- Amidst ongoing conflict and food scarcity, education-and-self-development might as well be a distant dream for many students, like Ali, who reside among the ruins of educational institutions.
- Yasmine Al-Za'aneen and Saja Adwan, students from Gaza, speak of their interrupted education, with Yasmine sorting through books that have survived Israeli strikes and Saja taking notes on meagre educational papers.
- As a result of the ongoing conflict, much of Gaza, already plagued by poverty and high unemployment, has been demolished, leaving emergency education as the only option for many children.
- Within the UNRWA's Temporary Learning Spaces (TLSs), established in 62 schools, over 56,000 children continue their education amidst ongoing humanitarian challenges.
- Despite these efforts, online-education emerges as a potential solution for students like Yasmine and Saja, who have limited access to physical classrooms due to the conflict.
- The destruction and repeated attacks on schools and universities have sparked global protests, advocating for academic and financial boycotts of Israeli institutions involved in the conflict.
- War-and-conflicts have brought misery to Gaza, with casualties reaching 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages, as per Israeli tallies, further escalating the tension in the region.
- As the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas shows no signs of abating, the future of education in Gaza remains uncertain, with plans for a new Gaza offensive by Israel, threatening the already fragile educational institutions.
