Gaza children resume in-person classes after three-year disruption
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Hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza returned to classrooms on Saturday for the first time in nearly three years, despite widespread damage to school buildings and financial hardship for families.
The conflict between Gaza and Israel has severely impacted education, resulting in the deaths of approximately 22,000 children and over 770 education workers, including 532 teachers, according to Ibrahim Ramadan, director of education for East Khan Younis.
Unicef reports that 98 per cent of schools in Gaza sustained damage or destruction during the recent war, leaving about 660,000 students without access to regular, in-person learning. Students like Moayed Abu Mustafa, from Khan Younis, expressed joy at returning to school after a three-year absence. Although classes have resumed, many students lack basic supplies like uniforms, notebooks, and pens, and some are learning in temporary facilities such as tents.
The reopening represents a fragile but hopeful step towards normalcy for children in Gaza.
