Gaza schools reopen for the first time in three years

On Saturday, September 19, 2026, educational programs resumed in Gaza as hundreds of thousands of students returned to in-person learning for the first time since October 2023. Three schools officially reopened, including an UNRWA facility in the al-Nuseirat camp and two government schools in Gaza City, while others attended temporary learning sites. The Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education estimates that 541,000 students are currently benefiting from these programs, which offer both in-person and virtual tracks.

However, the return to education remains fragile. UNICEF reports that 98% of Gaza's school infrastructure has been destroyed or damaged. Local officials state that approximately 660,000 children were deprived of regular schooling during the conflict, which resulted in the deaths of roughly 22,000 students and over 770 education staff, including 532 teachers. Many students are attending classes in tents or damaged buildings, often lacking essential supplies like notebooks and pens.

Moving forward, the Ministry plans to expand physical education across 700 sites throughout the strip and anticipates the arrival of 25 additional temporary schools to support the ongoing educational effort.