Children in Gaza defy trauma to return to school

Children have returned to school in Gaza, taking classes in tents or in the rubble of schools where families sheltered during the war, but trauma, aid blockades and the threat of more fighting could derail their drive to learn.

At least 14,500 children were killed in the war and thousands wounded, according to Unicef. More than 400 teachers were also killed, the UN says, and now most of Gaza’s children need mental health support for trauma, aid agencies say.

Children are not necessarily just picking up from where they left off when the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, “because of all the learning loss and the deep psychological impact of the war,” said Kate McLennan, Middle East regional advisor on education at rights group War Child.

“There is also trauma attached to schools, which are generally understood as places of learning and safety and where you go to play with your friends (but have) been used as shelters,” she said. “So, there is that alternative use of a school which has a psychological impact on children.”

A fragile truce was declared between Hamas and Israel in January and as of March 3, more than 150,000 students had enrolled in 165 government schools, with over 7,000 teachers mobilised, the UN said, citing the Education Ministry in Gaza.
But the challenges are huge.

Palestinian children take a lesson in a makeshift classroom located within a school compound in Gaza City.
AP

More than 658,000 school-aged children do not have access to formal education and almost 95% of school buildings have been damaged by Israeli strikes and fighting with 88% of them needing major reconstruction, said a report by the Occupied Palestinian Territory Education Cluster, which includes UN agencies and other international aid groups.

Desks and chairs have been pulverised and teaching materials destroyed while reconstruction has been delayed by aid blockades by Israel.

The blockades have impeded efforts to establish more learning spaces and rebuild damaged schools, said Alun McDonald, head of media and external relations at Islamic Relief, a British-based charity.

Palestinian children queue at a damaged school in Gaza City. Reuters

“Hundreds of large tents that were meant to be used for temporary learning spaces have been blocked from entering (Gaza), even during the ceasefire period,” McDonald said.

The head of the Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA) has warned there could be another hunger crisis if the blockades continue. Israel says the blockades are designed to pressure Hamas in ceasefire talks.

“Children can’t learn when they are being starved and bombed,” McDonald said. “Getting children back into school is an urgent priority, but the challenges are absolutely massive.”

The war was triggered when Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, triggering an Israeli offensive into the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.