Gaza children return to in-person classes in damaged schools and tents

Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of children returned to in-person teaching on Saturday for the first time in nearly three years, attending classes in damaged or makeshift school buildings and tents.

The return comes as many families cannot afford uniforms, notebooks or pens, while most schools in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged during the war.

Damage to education

The United Nations Children’s Fund said 98% of schools in Gaza were either destroyed or damaged during the war.

Gaza education officials said about 660,000 students had been deprived of in-person learning and regular participation in education.

Ibrahim Ramadan, director of education for East Khan Younis, said the conflict had killed around 22,000 students and more than 770 education workers, including 532 teachers.

Students return to class

Moayed Abu Mustafa said he was returning to school for the first time in three years.

“The last time I have been to school was three years ago. Now, we are starting the school year, it is year of joy, happiness and success,” he said.

Mustafa said he was determined to learn despite sitting on the floor in a tent without ventilation, lacking decent shoes, a notebook and a pen, and having lost friends during the war.

“Despite all of this we will learn, we will learn even in a tent,” he said.

Shortages for displaced families

Fifteen-year-old displaced student Samar Abu Salmi, who lives with her family in a tent, said she was also returning to class.

“We studied on phones and we haven’t seen our teachers… now, we are back pursuing our dream… from one tent to another,” she said from the yard of her new makeshift school.

Salmi said her family could not afford much of the essential equipment needed for school.

“Before the war, everything was available for us – notebooks, pens, goods, clothes, outings, things that we could get cheaply,” she said.