Palestinian Education Ministry says more than 90% of Gaza schools destroyed during three years of war

Palestinian Minister of Education Amjad Barham said on Wednesday that more than 90 percent of schools and over 85 percent of universities and higher education institutions in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed during three years of war since 7th October 2023.

In a statement, Barham said Israeli military operations continued to affect educational infrastructure in Gaza, severely disrupting access to education.

He said the ministry was working to maintain educational activities despite difficult humanitarian and security conditions by introducing virtual schools and establishing more than 700 educational centers and temporary schools in tents.

According to ministry of education figures, 21,806 students and educational staff members have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank since the war began.

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The ministry said the figure included more than 19,000 school students and 1,386 university students killed in Gaza, while more than 31,000 school and university students in the territory had been injured.

It also reported that 805 school staff members and 246 university lecturers and employees had been killed in Gaza, with thousands of other educational personnel injured.

In the West Bank, the ministry said students and educational staff had also faced arrests by Israeli forces.

Regarding damage to educational facilities, the ministry reported that more than 179 public schools and over 105 schools operated by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) had been completely destroyed in Gaza.

It added that more than 63 university buildings had also been destroyed. Barham reiterated the ministry’s commitment to maintaining educational opportunities for Palestinian students despite the extensive destruction of educational infrastructure and continuing humanitarian challenges.

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