DaysofPal—Before the start of the war on Gaza, Umm Hisham placed great importance on her children’s education. She enrolled them in private schools, convinced they would receive a better quality of learning than in government or UNRWA-run institutions.
Her hopes were centered on ensuring a brighter academic future for her children, including her youngest, Khaled, who was about to begin first grade in the 2023–2024 school year.
However, just a month into that school year, war broke out—upending her plans and plunging her family into chaos. More than a year and a half later, Khaled has yet to receive any form of formal education. He should be in third grade, but instead, he remains nearly illiterate, unable to read or write. His situation reflects that of thousands of other children across Gaza, whose education has been completely disrupted by the conflict.
This war has done more than destroy buildings—it has dismantled Gaza’s educational system. Schools, universities, and learning centers have been bombed. Teachers and students have been killed.
Entire institutions have been reduced to rubble. This deliberate targeting of education, known as “educide,” represents a broader strategy by the Israeli occupation: to dismantle Palestinian society through starvation, medical deprivation, and the destruction of education.
The tragedy of educide is especially jarring considering Palestine’s long-standing achievements in literacy. Prior to the war, Palestine had one of the lowest illiteracy rates in the world. In 2023, only 2.1% of people aged 15 and older were illiterate. In contrast, the illiteracy rate in Western Asia and North Africa was 19% in 2022, with 24.6% among females and 13.7% among males, according to UNESCO. Globally, the average was 13%.
This success story was decades in the making. From 1997 to 2023, illiteracy among Palestinians aged 15 and above fell from 13.9% to just 2.1%. Among males, it dropped from 7.8% to 1.1%, and among females, from 20.3% to 3.2%. In Gaza specifically, the rate declined from 13.7% in 1997 to 1.9% in 2023.
But all of that is now at risk. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Education, over 12,000 students and 569 education staff have been killed, and more than 20,000 students and 2,700 staff injured. The physical destruction is equally severe: 111 schools have been entirely destroyed, 241 severely damaged, and 85 partially damaged. UNRWA reports that 88% of its schools have suffered damage, affecting around 660,000 children. University buildings have also been targeted—51 were destroyed, and 57 were damaged.
Despite the chaos, the Ministry and UNRWA have tried to maintain some form of education through limited in-person classes and remote learning. However, power cuts, lack of internet access, and trauma make this extremely difficult.
Sam Rose, Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza, warned during a short ceasefire that an entire generation is at risk. “Education cannot be negotiable,” he said—reminding the world that even amid war, the right to learn must be protected.
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