GAZA STRIP — Students in Gaza returned to in-person schooling on Saturday, September 19, 2026. This marks the first return to in-person teaching for students in Gaza in nearly three years.

Approximately 540,000 to 541,000 students are expected to attend in-person classes this academic year. The Ministry of Education, supported by local and international organizations, launched the 2026–27 academic year by constructing dozens of temporary facilities using canvas, wood, metal sheets, and tents.

Classes are being held in temporary structures including tents, tarpaulins, sheet metal, and wood constructions. Some temporary classroom sites stand on bare sand, while others contain classrooms holding only a blackboard and a few mattresses. Some classrooms lack desks, forcing students to sit on mattresses or blankets on the floor.

UNICEF states that 98% of schools in Gaza were destroyed or damaged during the war. More than 93% of damaged school buildings require major rehabilitation or full reconstruction, according to UNICEF. Around 420,000 children in Gaza had no face-to-face learning at all since October 2023, according to UNICEF. About 700,000 children aged four to 17 in Gaza had missed formal face-to-face schooling for almost three consecutive school years as of April 2026, according to UNICEF.

Students expressed mixed emotions regarding the return to classrooms. Moayed Abu Mustafa, a student, said he felt relief at resuming his education. The last time I have been to school was three years ago. Now, we are starting the school year; it is a year of joy, happiness, and success, Abu Mustafa said.

Other students cited security concerns and poor physical conditions. Yamen Abu Samra, a student, described the fear associated with attending class in the current environment. "We used to wake up happy to go to school. Now, when we come to school, we’re afraid of stray bullets, rockets, strikes, everything," Abu Samra said.

He also noted the lack of shelter from the elements. "Now, I’m sitting in a tent that has absolutely nothing, just the sun and the heat," he said.

The cost of supplies has increased for families. Khaled Aliyan, a stationery trader, said import restrictions have driven up prices. Aliyan stated that a notebook that previously cost 3 shekels now costs 15 shekels due to import restrictions.

Ibrahim Ramadan, director of education for East Khan Younis, stated that the conflict has killed around 22,000 students and more than 770 education workers, including 532 teachers. Palestinian authorities state that more than 73,000 people have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza. Online learning will continue for students who cannot attend classes or who left Gaza during the war.

Timeline

Students in Gaza returned to in-person schooling on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

"Three years ago, UNRWA had 182 fully equipped schools; however, we have unfortunately lost more than 95 percent of them, and those that remain are occupied by displaced people," said Tawfiq al-Hourani. "Now, I’m sitting in a tent that has absolutely nothing, just the sun and the heat," said Yamen Abu Samra. "We studied on phones and we haven’t seen our teachers. Now, we are back pursuing our dream, from one tent to another," said Samar Abu Salmi.

"Before the war, everything was available for us — notebooks, pens, goods, clothes, outings, things that we could get cheaply," said Samar Abu Salmi.

What's New

UNRWA reported that more than 280,000 children are attending its schools and educational tents.

Why It Matters

The reliance on temporary facilities shows the ongoing challenges in restoring the education system. The Ministry of Education constructed dozens of temporary facilities using materials such as canvas, wood, and metal sheets, but some sites lack basic furniture, forcing students to sit on mattresses. UNRWA reported that more than 280,000 children are attending its schools and educational tents, while online learning continues for those unable to attend in person. The human cost of the conflict includes the deaths of around 22,000 students and more than 770 education workers, according to Ibrahim Ramadan, director of education for East Khan Younis.