Tue Nov 18 12:04:58 UTC 2025: Summary:

Following a recent ceasefire, efforts are underway to reopen schools in Gaza for over 600,000 Palestinian children who have missed two years of education due to conflict. UNICEF and UNRWA are working to provide education, but face challenges including damaged schools, lack of space, and the use of schools as shelters for displaced families. The prolonged disruption to education has impacted not only children’s academic progress but also their mental health. Reconstruction is expected to be a long and costly process.

News Article:

Gaza Races to Reopen Schools for 600,000 Children After Two Years of Conflict

Gaza City – Following the recent ceasefire, a massive effort is underway in Gaza to get over 600,000 Palestinian children back into classrooms after two years of interrupted education due to conflict. Agencies like UNICEF and UNRWA are scrambling to reopen makeshift schools and provide learning opportunities, recognizing the critical need for both education and mental health support.

“It is critical for children to return to classes as soon as possible,” said UNICEF spokesman John Crickx.

The situation is dire. Many children have been repeatedly displaced, forced to flee air raids, and tasked with finding food and water for their families instead of attending school. While some sporadic lessons were held in displacement camps during the fighting, consistent education has been impossible.

Reopening schools is proving challenging. Dozens have been destroyed or badly damaged, and many are still being used as shelters for displaced families. UNRWA, which previously educated half of Gaza’s children, is working to provide education through contracted teachers, but resources are stretched thin.

While about 100,000 children have been able to return to learning, UNICEF estimates that more than 630,000 Palestinian children missed out on school during the war.

The long-term impact of the conflict on these children is a major concern. Reconstruction of Gaza is expected to be a lengthy and expensive process, potentially taking years and costing an estimated $70 billion, according to UN experts. For now, the immediate priority is to provide a safe and stable learning environment for the hundreds of thousands of children who have already lost so much.

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