Gaza, September 11, 2026 — Gaza is preparing for a new academic year under extraordinary circumstances, with thousands of children expected to return to learning despite widespread damage to schools and the continuing humanitarian crisis across the territory.
Gaza education crisis 2026
According to Palestinian education authorities, administrative and teaching staff are scheduled to return on September 16, while students are expected to resume classes on September 19. Around 700 face-to-face learning points and 25 temporary schools are being prepared across Gaza, while virtual education will continue for students who cannot access in-person learning facilities. The arrangements are expected to support approximately 541,000 students.
The planned reopening represents an important attempt to restore education after years of disruption. However, it will not resemble a normal school year. Many traditional school buildings have been damaged or destroyed, forcing education authorities and humanitarian organisations to rely on temporary learning spaces and alternative arrangements.
Nearly Three Years of Educational Disruption
The education crisis in Gaza has affected an entire generation of children. UNICEF has reported that around 700,000 children between the ages of four and 17 have missed formal, in-person schooling for almost three consecutive school years.
The physical education infrastructure has also suffered extensive damage. UNICEF reported earlier in 2026 that nearly 98 percent of school buildings in Gaza had been damaged, with more than 93 percent requiring major rehabilitation or complete reconstruction before they can fully function again.
More recent figures from Save the Children released in September indicate that approximately 97.5 percent of school buildings have been damaged. The organisation also reported that 86 percent of assessed kindergartens had either been destroyed, damaged or were located in areas that children could not safely access.
These figures demonstrate the scale of the challenge facing Gaza’s education system. Reopening classes is therefore not simply a matter of unlocking school gates. In many locations, there are no functioning school buildings available.
Temporary Learning Spaces Offer a Path Back to Education
In response, education authorities and humanitarian organisations are developing temporary solutions.
The Education Cluster has been preparing hundreds of temporary learning spaces across Gaza. As of the end of August, 22 partners were managing 359 temporary learning spaces and had received more than 155,000 school bags for students in Grade 3 and above. Teaching and learning kits were also being prepared for distribution.
These spaces are intended to give children an opportunity to resume structured learning while permanent school infrastructure remains unavailable.
For children who cannot reach face-to-face learning locations, virtual education will remain part of the response. This is particularly important for students living in areas where damaged infrastructure, displacement or insecurity makes regular attendance difficult.
The Psychological Impact on Children
The education crisis is not limited to damaged buildings and missing school supplies.
Children in Gaza have experienced years of displacement, uncertainty and disruption. Returning to education can provide more than academic instruction. A stable learning environment can give children structure, social interaction and a sense of continuity at a time when many aspects of everyday life have been disrupted.
However, teachers and education workers also face significant challenges. They must attempt to provide education while operating in an environment where basic resources remain limited and many families continue to face humanitarian difficulties.
The condition of classrooms, availability of books and learning materials, electricity, internet connectivity and safe transportation will all influence how effectively the new academic year can operate.
Education Infrastructure Remains a Major Challenge
The scale of destruction means that temporary education cannot replace the need for long-term reconstruction.
UNICEF’s assessments indicate that most school buildings will require substantial rehabilitation or complete rebuilding before they can return to normal operation.
This creates a long-term challenge for Gaza. Even if temporary learning spaces allow children to return to lessons, rebuilding hundreds of schools will require significant financial resources, construction materials, technical expertise and sustained humanitarian access.
The education system also needs furniture, computers, books, laboratory equipment and other teaching resources. Without these investments, children may return to learning but still face major gaps in the quality and continuity of their education.
A New Academic Year Brings Hope
Despite these enormous difficulties, preparations for the September reopening represent an important step.
The Palestinian Ministry of Education says around 541,000 students in Gaza are expected to benefit from the new arrangements, including face-to-face and virtual learning options. Around 700 educational points and 25 temporary schools are being prepared to make this possible.
For many children, the return to learning will be about more than completing a school year. It will be an opportunity to reconnect with teachers, classmates and a routine that has been disrupted for years.
The success of the reopening, however, will depend heavily on security, access to educational supplies, functioning infrastructure and continued international humanitarian support.
What Comes Next for Gaza’s Education System?
The September reopening should be viewed as the beginning of a much longer recovery process rather than a return to normal education.
In the short term, authorities will need to keep temporary learning spaces operational, provide teachers with resources and ensure that children can access safe places to study.
In the longer term, Gaza will require extensive reconstruction of schools and education facilities. The challenge will also involve supporting children who have experienced years of interrupted education and helping them overcome significant learning gaps.
The new academic year therefore carries two contrasting messages: the enormous scale of Gaza’s education crisis and the determination to keep children learning despite the destruction around them.
For thousands of students, September 19 could mark an important return to education. But restoring Gaza’s education system to a stable and functioning state will require years of reconstruction, resources and sustained international support.
Source basis: UN OCHA, UNICEF, Palestinian Ministry of Education/WAFA and Save the Children. Figures and dates have been cross-checked against recent reports available as of September 11, 2026.
