A new study reveals that the ongoing war in Gaza could delay the education of children and young people by up to five years. This situation raises concerns about creating a lost generation of traumatized Palestinian youth.
The report is a collaboration between academics and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). It is the first to quantify the impact of the conflict on education since it began in October 2023. The study details the harsh effects on children, young people, and teachers, incorporating firsthand accounts from aid workers and frontline staff.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Centre for Lebanese Studies joined UNRWA to compile this report. They found that Gaza’s children have already missed 14 months of education since 2019 due to COVID-19, previous Israeli military actions, and the current war.
Using data from global recovery efforts after COVID-19, the researchers developed several projections for the educational future of Gaza’s youth. The most optimistic scenario assumes an immediate ceasefire and quick international support to rebuild the education system. In this case, students could lose two years of learning. However, if the fighting continues until 2026, losses could reach five years. This estimate does not consider the additional impacts of trauma, hunger, and displacement, which are worsening the education crisis in Gaza.
The researchers emphasize that without urgent, large-scale international support for education, there is a significant risk not just to students’ learning but also to their faith in the future and human rights. Despite these pressing needs, education has been deprioritized in international aid efforts. The report states, “Education, simply put, is not seen as lifesaving.”
Professor Pauline Rose, Director of the Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre at the University of Cambridge, expressed that “Palestinian education is under attack in Gaza. Israeli military operations have had a significant effect on learning.” She stressed the need for immediate educational support for children, emphasizing that education is a fundamental right.
By August 2024, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that over 10,600 children and 400 teachers had been killed due to Israeli military operations. Additionally, more than 15,300 students and 2,400 teachers had been injured. Hundreds of thousands of young people are now displaced and living in shelters.
Satellite images reviewed by the Occupied Palestinian Territory Education Cluster revealed that over 90% of schools have been damaged, with many beyond repair. Since August, UNRWA has provided educational resources in shelters, reaching about 8,000 children. However, the study warns that much more support is needed to prevent further learning loss, which had already been substantial due to COVID-19.
Researchers estimate that the 14 months of lost education have increased “learning poverty” — the percentage of children unable to read a basic text by age 10 — by at least 20 percentage points. This figure may be even higher, as it does not include the broader effects of the war on children and teachers.
The report compiles information from various sources and incorporates insights from the Education Cluster and its partners. It highlights the severe psychological impact on Palestinian children, who have been living “in constant fear and lack of hope” after 17 years of blockade, according to a 2022 Save The Children report.
Professor Maha Shuayb, Director of the Centre for Lebanese Studies, stated, “Young people’s prospects in Gaza are being extinguished, and our findings show they are losing hope. Education is central to stabilizing that decline. If it is erased, the consequences will be far-reaching.”
Save The Children has reported that more than 10 children per day have lost limbs since the war started. The report warns of increasing numbers of less visible disabilities, which will further strain an already challenged education system.
The study indicates that continuous trauma is shaping children’s perspectives and worldviews. Some children have begun to question values such as equality, human rights, and tolerance, especially when these are taught in shelters. One humanitarian aid official remarked, “This is a full generation of trauma; it will take a generation to overcome it.”
The report also discusses the immense physical and mental strain on teachers and counselors. The ongoing violence, displacement, and harsh daily realities have significantly impacted their ability to engage effectively in education, which will hinder reconstruction efforts.
Professor Yusuf Sayed from the University of Cambridge highlighted the immense suffering of teachers and counselors, stating, “There is evidence of extraordinary commitment from educators striving to maintain learning, but the killings and hardships inevitably affect their ability to do so.”
Despite a flash appeal from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, only 3.5% of aid for Gaza has been allocated to education. Major donors like the US and Germany have overlooked education in their aid packages, while blockades continue to restrict resource delivery on the ground.
The report warns that without increased funding and access to learning opportunities, the long-term consequences for Gaza’s next generation will only worsen. It calls for immediate actions to resume education, including providing counseling, safe learning spaces, and support for students and educators with disabilities.
The study advocates for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and an end to occupation, in line with the International Court of Justice advisory opinion and a recently adopted UN resolution. Only then can Gaza’s education system be rebuilt, which will require recruiting more teachers and counselors to address the extensive learning loss and trauma experienced by children and young people.
“Education is the only asset the Palestinian people have not been dispossessed of. They have invested in their children’s education with hopes for a better future. Today, over 625,000 deeply traumatized school-aged children are living in rubble in Gaza. Bringing them back to learning should be our collective priority. Failing to do so will not only lead to a lost generation but also sow the seeds for more extremism, hatred, and violence,” said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner General.
The study stresses the importance of Palestinian leadership in the education recovery process. “A ceasefire is crucial for the success of any human development activity in Gaza, including education,” the authors state. “Children have witnessed the international community’s indifference as they are killed. This has left them questioning the values that schools aim to instill regarding humanitarian principles.”
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