Children in Gaza Return to School After Years Without Formal Education

Gaza: Return to School

After years of war, the sound of children learning can be heard once again in Gaza. The makeshift amphitheaters, which have begun operating as classrooms, are noisy and slightly chaotic, yet filled with life. This marks the first day of school for many children after a long period of absence due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

According to UNICEF, over 97% of schools in Gaza were affected or destroyed during the war. The Lulwa Abdel Wahab al-Qatami High School in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City was damaged in January 2024. Now, after months of serving as a shelter for displaced families, it has become a place of learning once again, albeit in a simplified form.

Naeem al-Asmaar, a 14-year-old student who lost his mother during an airstrike, stated: "It was the hardest experience of my life. I missed school so much, but this is how things are now: we only study four subjects and there isn't enough space to learn. But being here means a lot to me."

The school, currently accommodating 1,100 students, operates in three shifts daily, with boys and girls attending on alternate days. However, there are only 24 teachers available.

Many parents fear that their children have lost years of education. Huda Bassam al-Dasouki, a mother of five, expressed that access to education has become an overwhelming challenge: "It's not that education doesn't exist, but it is extremely difficult. A simple notebook that cost one shekel before the war now costs five. I have five children, and some of them have fallen four years behind in their education."

Despite the critical situation, teachers in Gaza continue to fight for children's education, believing that "education is our foundation, our capital."