Gaza: Hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza have returned to in-person education after nearly three years, attending classes in damaged school buildings, temporary learning spaces and tents amid severe shortages of basic supplies. Despite the devastation, the education ministry, backed by international and local organisations, has moved ahead with the 2026-27 academic year, establishing dozens of temporary schools made of tents, tarpaulins, sheet metal and wood to accommodate students, according to a report by Reuters.
According to education officials, at least 5,40,000 students are expected to attend in-person classes this year in makeshift private schools and temporary learning centres.
For many children, the return to school brought a sense of joy and normalcy despite the difficult conditions. “The last time I have been to school was three years ago. He added that students were determined to continue learning even inside tents. Now, we are back pursuing our dream… from one tent to another. Now, when we come to school, we are afraid of stray bullets, rockets, strikes, everything.”
Now, we are starting the school year, it is year of joy, happiness and success,” student Moayed Abu Mustafa said, according to Reuters. Fifteen-year-old displaced student Samar Abu Salmi, who lives with her family in a tent, said: “We studied on phones and we have not seen our teachers… Another student Yamen Abu Samra said: “We used to wake up happy to go to school…
