In Gaza City, educational activities have recommenced for children within makeshift tent classrooms. This resumption follows an Israel-Hamas ceasefire established in October. The former Lulwa Abdel Wahab al-Qatami School in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City, which was damaged in January 2024 and subsequently used as a shelter for displaced families, is now hosting these learning sessions.
Educational Infrastructure and Impact
Unicef reports that over 97% of schools in Gaza sustained damage or were destroyed during the conflict. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have frequently alleged that Hamas utilizes civilian infrastructure, including schools, for operational purposes; however, concrete evidence for these claims has rarely been provided. Of the 658,000 school-aged children in the Gaza Strip, the majority have not received formal education for nearly two years.
The current educational environment differs from pre-war conditions. The makeshift school operates in tents and focuses on four basic subjects: Arabic, English, mathematics, and science. Resources such as electricity, internet access, and fully equipped labs are unavailable.
Student and Staff Experiences
Fourteen-year-old Naeem al-Asmaar, a former student of the Lulwa school, whose home survived the conflict, lost his mother in an Israeli air strike. He cited the significant difference in the learning environment, noting the shift from traditional classrooms to tents and the limited curriculum. Rital Alaa Harb, a ninth-grade student, reported that displacement significantly impacted her education.
Dr. Mohammed Saeed Schheiber, who has 24 years of experience in education, assumed management of the site in mid-November. He stated the objective is to mitigate the educational losses experienced by students. The school, managed by Unicef, enrolls 1,100 boys and girls, operating in three daily shifts with alternating attendance days for genders. There are 24 teachers.
Challenges and Support Services
More than 100 students at the school have experienced the loss of one or both parents, had their homes destroyed, or witnessed fatalities during the conflict. Dr. Schheiber indicated that all students have been affected, either directly or indirectly. A counsellor provides psychological support sessions; however, the demand for these services exceeds the available capacity.
The school utilizes six classrooms per shift and currently cannot accommodate additional enrollments, despite a large displacement camp adjacent to the site with many children seeking education.
Parental Perspectives
Huda Bassam al-Dasouki, a mother of five displaced from southern Rimal, described the current educational challenges. She noted that basic school supplies have become unaffordable or scarce; for example, a notebook's price increased from one shekel ($0.31; £0.23) to five shekels. Ms. al-Dasouki also stated that some children have fallen up to four years behind in their education, attributing this to both the recent conflict and the prior Covid-19 pandemic. Jonathan Crickx highlighted that restrictions on aid supplies have impacted schools.