UNICEF in the State of Palestine Humanitarian Situation Update - Education

Highlights

Education Situation Update

•  A generation out of school: About 700,000 children (ages 4-17) have missed formal in-person schooling for almost three school years in a row. Nearly all children have not had a formal school day since October 2023.
• Where can children learn safely? Hardly anywhere. Nearly 98 per cent of school buildings are damaged; over 93 per cent require major rehabilitation or full reconstruction; around 81 per cent were directly hit. Schools that once served almost half a million students are now unsafe or gone.
• Non-formal learning is limited: Only a minority can attend temporary in-person spaces. Around 420,000 children (3 in 5) have no face-to-face learning at all.
• Why learning is still blocked: For more than two years, even basic supplies like pencils and notebooks were unavailable, in addition to the scarcity of teachers and available space to establish learning centres. School-in-a-Carton Kits began arriving only in mid-January 2026. And before new learning spaces can open, rubble must be cleared and explosive hazards assessed to ensure there is a safe space for children to learn.
• The journey to school is dangerous: Approximately 60 million tons of debris block streets and hide explosive ordnance, making travel to any child-friendly space unsafe.