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Gaza students return to in-person classes amid widespread school destruction
Hundreds of thousands of children in the Gaza Strip have returned to in-person classes for the first time in nearly three years. The reopening marks a fragile milestone for the 2026-2027 academic year, occurring amidst widespread destruction of educational infrastructure.
UNICEF reports that 98% of schools in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged during the ongoing conflict. Consequently, many students are attending classes in makeshift environments, including tents, tarpaulins, and damaged buildings. These temporary classrooms often lack basic necessities such as proper ventilation, desks, notebooks, and pens. Some facilities are being used to shelter displaced families while simultaneously serving as learning spaces.
Local education officials estimate that approximately 660,000 students were deprived of regular in-person learning during the conflict. The human toll on the education sector is significant; Ibrahim Ramadan, director of education for eastern Khan Younis, stated that roughly 22,000 students and over 770 education professionals, including 532 teachers, have died.
The Ministry of Education, supported by international aid agencies, has established dozens of temporary learning centers to facilitate the return. However, students face severe economic challenges, as import restrictions have reportedly caused the price of essential stationery to increase fivefold.
Entities
Gaza Ministry of Education · Gaza Strip · Ibrahim Ramadan · Khan Younis · Ministry of Education · UNICEF · UNRWA
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] More than 85% of public schools are currently unfit for operation. www.metro1.com.br
- [● 12 SOURCES] Approximately 660,000 students were deprived of regular in-person education. ccnnews.com.br · mrnews.com.br · stvincenttribune.com · antiguatribune.com · ejornais.com.br · +7 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Students in Gaza returned to in-person classes on Saturday. www.metro1.com.br · ccnnews.com.br · mrnews.com.br · stvincenttribune.com · antiguatribune.com · +8 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The current academic schedule provides for three hours of instruction on alternating days. www.metro1.com.br
- [DISPUTED] 98% of schools in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged during the war. ccnnews.com.br · mrnews.com.br · stvincenttribune.com · antiguatribune.com · ejornais.com.br · +7 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Approximately 22,000 students and over 770 education professionals, including 532 teachers, have died during the war. www.metro1.com.br · ccnnews.com.br · mrnews.com.br · stvincenttribune.com · antiguatribune.com · +8 more