More than 2 years of relentless bombardment has left the education system in Gaza completely unrecognisable, with more than 97% schools either damaged or destroyed, according to UNICEF.

Another recent study by the University of Cambridge estimates that “children in Gaza will have lost the equivalent of 5 years’ worth of education due to repeated school closures since 2020, first through Covid-19, and then war.”

Disruption to education can have profound impacts on children. The longer they are out of school, the less likely they are to return. This can affect their long-term prospects, income and even mental and physical health.

Conflict situations, where children are prevented from attending school en mass, risk creating a ‘lost generation.’ In Gaza, most of the 658,000 school age children have had little access to face-to-face learning for over 2 years now.

Delivering a vital project

Although a ceasefire is officially in place, huge obstacles to rehabilitating Gaza’s education sector remain. Supplies are limited, teachers and their students are displaced, and school buildings no longer usable, leaving teachers to write on the side of tents in their makeshift classrooms. At least 782 teachers and other educational staff have been killed. Despite the ceasefire announcement, some children have still been shot at while trying to reach school.

Islamic Relief is working with local partners Al-Tawasol Educational Center, Marah Kindergarten and Al-Qara Center, to help displaced children in southern Gaza access safe and inclusive temporary learning spaces.

This project is supporting 800 students to continue their education.

Children attend daily lessons in subjects such as Arabic, English, maths and science, as well as attending weekly psychosocial support sessions that aim to restore their sense of safety and stability.

Many of the children participating in the project are living in tents or overcrowded shelters with limited access to electricity, internet and learning materials. These circumstances directly affect children’s ability to learn, making the project’s temporary classrooms a vital space.

Challenges remain

The situation in Gaza is extremely fluid, and Israel continues to block vital humanitarian aid from being delivered. Rules on what materials can come into the territory and in what quantities change constantly. Over the winter, Gaza has suffered from extreme weather conditions and heavy rains have flooded tents and shelters with water and raw sewage.

Many of the children attending our temporary learning centres have lost members of their family and are suffering from high levels of psychological distress.

Despite all of these challenges, children’s enthusiasm for learning remains undiminished.

Hope for the future

According to the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies, education is a priority from the first day of every crisis, and ensuring children are able to access education is a priority of Islamic Relief.

“Education remains a vital source of hope and resilience for children and communities across Gaza. Schools and temporary learning spaces offer children a sense of safety, structure, and emotional support during times of crisis, helping them regain confidence and improve their overall wellbeing,” Lina Taha, Projects Coordinator for Islamic Relief says.

“Through this project, we are safeguarding children’s right to a safe and quality education, offering psychosocial support so children can feel secure, while addressing the learning loss that has occurred over the past few years.”

“We want to make sure that students and teachers can attend school in a safe and secure manner, giving them breathing space from the terrible situation we’re all experiencing in Gaza.”

“Education is one of the few lifelines children still hold on to. By protecting learning today, we are protecting the future of an entire generation.”

Moving forward, Islamic Relief plans to expand this project to support a larger number of displaced children. We will also look to help the local education sector build a more resilient and adaptable education system for the future.

By donating generously today, you can help children in Gaza access an education and give themselves a glimmer of hope for the future. Donate today.