Third year of interrupted education for children in Gaza schools.
Gaza City, Palestine - As the new academic year begins, Gaza College School on Al Jalaa Street reopens its doors, accommodating around 1,000 students from grades one through 12. However, the educational landscape in Gaza remains fraught with challenges, as over 95% of its education infrastructure lies out of service, with approximately 65% of schools either destroyed, damaged, or converted into shelters.
The school resumed in-person learning after returning from the south when Israel and Hamas agreed to a short-lived truce in January this year. Unfortunately, the resumption of classes has been marred by loss, as more than 15,000 school students, hundreds of university students, and over 950 teachers, principals, and educational supervisors have been killed.
Taghreed Yaghi, a 40-year-old mother of three, is one of many parents concerned about the safety of their children attending school. Her eldest son is scheduled to take his Tawjihi exams this Saturday, while her two younger sons attend Gaza College School. The family, like many others, is grappling with the trauma of loss, as neighbours, friends, and relatives have been caught in the conflict.
Despite the adversity, UNICEF has established emergency committees in the Gaza Strip to ensure children can continue learning despite restricted access to education due to Israeli aggression. Additionally, educational points and learning centres have been established, run by volunteer teachers without pay and minimal resources. To cope with the crisis, the school operates with morning and evening shifts across six school days.
Last year, the school had 2,000 students but the current circumstances have led to a decrease due to displacement and parents' fears. In the previous academic year, Gaza College School taught nearly 3,000 students online. This year, the new academic year is scheduled to begin online on September 15, but many families lack access to electricity, internet, and electronic devices.
To prepare for a potential shift to online education, the school has prepared e-learning platforms and WhatsApp groups for student follow-up. Furthermore, online Tawjihi school-leaving exams have been organized for about 38,000 higher secondary students unable to sit them in person due to the war.
Mr. Barhoum, a representative, accused Israel of deliberately targeting the education of Gaza's children. He emphasized the need for international intervention to protect the right to education for all children in Gaza. The Gaza Strip is facing its third consecutive year without full access to education due to Israel's war, and nearly 650,000 children of school age will be unable to attend classes.
As the crisis continues, the resilience of Gaza's students, teachers, and parents shines through, as they strive to maintain normalcy amidst the chaos. Their determination to continue learning and growing serves as a testament to the importance of education in the face of adversity.
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