More than 500,000 students begin the school year tomorrow in Gaza amid severe shortage of schools and supplies
More than 500,000 students in the Gaza Strip begin the 2026/2027 school year amid a severe shortage of schools, seats, and equipment, and widespread destruction of educational institutions. Director of Education for West Gaza, Dr. Jawad al-Sheikh Khalil, explains that 350,000 students are distributed across 208 government schools, while the actual need is three times the available number, with a rotation system adopted to accommodate the numbers.
More than 500,000 students in the Gaza Strip begin the 2026/2027 school year tomorrow, Saturday, amid a severe shortage of schools, seats, and equipment, and widespread destruction of educational institutions due to the Israeli war. In an interview with the newspaper "Filastin," the Director of Education for West Gaza, Dr. Jawad al-Sheikh Khalil, explains that about 350,000 students are enrolled in 208 government schools, while the actual need is three times this number. The educational system relies on rotation, with the school day extending from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, in three daily shifts, with males studying on Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday, and females on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Sheikh Khalil points out that the government schools in Gaza City are "all tents" in the yards of what remains of schools, and that students sit on the ground while the teacher writes on the awning due to the lack of blackboards and basic supplies. The Ministry of Education launched the "Remedial Program" for students who did not receive education during the war years, benefiting more than 100,000 students, while about 20,000 students remain outside the educational process. The number of school-age students who were martyred during the war is about 21,000, and the number of educational staff martyrs exceeds 750. Sheikh Khalil expresses his hope that the start of the school year will be "a day of challenge and Palestinian joy."