Gaza strives to reopen schools amid rubble, shortages and looming new term

In Gaza, the upcoming school term is shadowed by poverty and destruction, with families unable to afford uniforms, notebooks or shoes for children like Abdul Rahman. UNICEF estimates that 658,000 children have been denied education since the conflict began, while UNRWA reports that almost all school facilities are damaged. The Ministry of Education says attendance has dropped from 200 to 60 days a year, prompting a shift to flexible education that mixes surviving schools, temporary centers and virtual classes.

Despite a projected enrollment of 350,000 students, funding for education needs is only half covered. Makeshift schools such as the tarpaulin-covered Al Hadara facility are being readied for over 2,200 pupils, but teachers lack desks, chairs and basic materials. Experts warn that without substantial aid, the loss of learning will continue to erode basic literacy skills.