Palestinian schools begin 2026-2027 academic year

The 2026-2027 academic year has commenced in the West Bank, with approximately 846,000 students returning to 2,537 schools, including government, private, and UNRWA institutions. The start of the school year was marked by security challenges, including Israeli military incursions into school grounds in Nablus and delays in school start times in Tubas due to local raids.

In the Gaza Strip, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education is preparing for a specialized educational rollout. Administrative staff are scheduled to begin on September 16, with students expected to return on September 19. To accommodate the situation, the ministry is establishing roughly 700 face-to-face learning points and 25 temporary schools, while maintaining virtual learning options for approximately 541,000 students.

Education Minister Amjad Barham emphasized the commitment to education despite the destruction of some facilities, noting the use of “challenge schools” in remote and Bedouin areas. The ministry is also implementing infrastructure projects, including the construction of new schools and classrooms, to increase capacity and support vocational training.