Gaza education system faces massive disruption amid ongoing conflict

The education system in the Gaza Strip faces severe disruption as a new academic year approaches. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Education, over 165 schools and universities have been completely destroyed, while many others have been damaged or repurposed as emergency shelters for displaced persons. Data indicates that since the start of the conflict in 2023, the number of days students have received regular education has fallen to less than one-third of pre-2023 levels. The ministry reports that more than 20,051 students have been killed, and nearly 20,000 others have left the Gaza Strip.

To accommodate approximately 541,000 students, authorities are preparing roughly 700 locations for face-to-face learning, including 25 temporary schools, while offering online services for those unable to attend in person. Administrative staff are scheduled to return on September 16, with students expected to begin classes on September 19.

In addition to educational losses, Israeli military operations continue to impact residential and agricultural areas. Reports indicate strikes on homes in Gaza City, the Bureyc refugee camp, and Khan Younis, often following evacuation warnings. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces have demolished Palestinian homes and agricultural structures in Silvan and Er-Ram, citing a lack of building permits.