What's happened
UNICEF says 98% of Gaza schools were destroyed or damaged; about 660,000 students face disrupted learning. Reopening marks a fragile step as makeshift schools operate under tents and scarce supplies; prices for stationery have surged as Israeli restrictions persist.
What's behind the headline?
Key Points
- The reopening comes after years of disruption, with 660,000 students affected and 980 percent of schools impacted in some way.
- Makeshift classrooms, tents, and limited supplies underscore the fragility of in-person learning.
- Price hikes for basic school materials are linked to import restrictions and ongoing conflict conditions.
What to Watch
- How authorities protect civilians and civilian infrastructure as education resumes.
- The pace at which temporary schools are replaced by more durable facilities.
- The degree to which UNICEF and partners can sustain learning opportunities in the coming months.
How we got here
UNICEF has warned that the war severely damaged Gaza’s education system, with 98% of schools affected. Authorities report hundreds of thousands of students returning to classes in makeshift settings as the new academic year begins amid ongoing insecurity and shortages of teachers, desks, and learning materials.
Our analysis
UNICEF reports that 98% of Gaza schools are destroyed or damaged. Gaza education officials say about 660,000 students are deprived of in-person learning. Local reports describe the reopening as a fragile milestone. Israeli forces still control more than 60% of Gaza, with ongoing restrictions affecting supplies and costs. Stationery traders report prices rising sharply as a result.
Go deeper
- What steps are being taken to safeguard schools in Gaza?
- How are families coping with the shift to tent schools?
- When will more durable classrooms be ready for students?
More on these topics
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UNICEF - Agency
The United Nations Children's Fund is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.U.N. headquarters is based in New York City, it is among the most widespread and recognizable social welfare o
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Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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Israel - Country in the Middle East
Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.