Efforts are accelerating in Gaza as authorities, aid groups, and volunteers rush to reopen schools that have been closed or destroyed during months of intense conflict.
With thousands of children out of classrooms for nearly a year, education officials say the situation has become an emergency. Many schools have been damaged, turned into shelters, or completely reduced to rubble, leaving families worried that an entire generation may fall behind academically.
Humanitarian organisations working on the ground report that they are struggling with limited resources, lack of materials, and unsafe conditions in several neighbourhoods. Rebuilding efforts involve clearing debris, repairing classrooms, replacing furniture, and ensuring the safety of school facilities before students can return.
Parents in Gaza express mixed emotions, hope that their children can continue their education, but fear that renewed fighting could interrupt schooling once again. Teachers also say they are eager to return to work, but many have lost homes or loved ones in the conflict.
Despite the challenges, local authorities insist that reopening schools is a top priority, describing education as “a lifeline” that can help restore stability and hope for children living in trauma.
Aid groups warn, however, that without guaranteed safety and sustained international support, the process may be slow and fragile.