Gaza Herald – In Gaza, education was severely disrupted after Israel’s genocidal war forced schools and universities to close for years. Children and young adults were left without classrooms, textbooks, or regular instruction, relying on improvised learning spaces in tents or partially damaged buildings.
The destruction of infrastructure left most schools and universities unusable. Over 95% of school buildings, 79% of higher education campuses, and 60% of vocational training centers were damaged or destroyed, creating massive gaps in learning. Many higher education instructors were killed, displaced, or unable to teach, undermining the continuity of academic programs.
Older students faced the greatest challenges. Many had lost years of formal education and were forced to take on adult responsibilities, leaving little time or motivation to resume studies.
The lack of basic utilities made online learning almost impossible. Electricity was intermittent, internet connections were weak, and most students lacked access to laptops or phones capable of supporting remote education.
Despite these obstacles, some in Gaza attempted to adapt, attending improvised classrooms and resuming limited in-person studies whenever possible. Reconstruction of school infrastructure and recovery of education remained slow, hampered by ongoing destruction and resource shortages.
The crisis left hundreds of thousands of students behind, creating a lost generation facing long-term educational and professional setbacks. Efforts to restore learning were ongoing, but conditions remained extremely challenging.
