DaysofPal– In a remarkable display of resilience amid devastation, the Ministry of Education in Gaza officially launched the 2024–2025 school year virtually on Monday afternoon, despite the near-total collapse of the education infrastructure due to ongoing Israeli attacks.
The announcement comes as Gaza’s education sector suffers one of the heaviest tolls in the war. According to officials, 293 out of 307 schools across the Gaza Strip have been partially or completely destroyed, the result of sustained airstrikes and bombardment during what has widely been condemned as an ongoing campaign of genocide.
Just two days prior, more than 26,000 high school students in Gaza—facing both physical displacement and emotional trauma—began their final year of education online, using whatever limited digital access remains in the war-torn enclave.
A Digital Lifeline Amid Destruction
Education officials say the move to online learning is not just a necessity, but a symbol of defiance and hope, as Gaza’s children continue to pursue their right to education despite the immense challenges.
“The classroom walls may be gone, but the will to learn remains unshaken,” said a spokesperson for the Ministry. “We are doing everything in our power to prevent a generation from being lost.”
A Sector on the Brink
The destruction of Gaza’s schools has drawn sharp criticism from international organizations, with multiple human rights groups calling for the protection of educational institutions in line with international humanitarian law. The extensive targeting of schools has also disrupted critical support services for children, including psychological care and food distribution.
With the majority of students now displaced, orphaned, or living in temporary shelters, educators are struggling to provide consistency in learning. Electricity shortages, limited internet access, and the psychological trauma of war add to the obstacles facing both students and teachers.
Still, for many families, the virtual reopening of schools offers a thread of normalcy in a reality turned upside down.
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