Classrooms in Crisis: Educating Palestine’s Displaced Children

Leah Trebbne - Awareness Content Reporter

Children attending a lesson at one of UNICEF’s Temporary Learning Spaces in North Gaza - Image from UNICEF State of Palestine (2024, November 21)

The Current Climate

Across the world, there are approximately 452 million children living in conflict-affected areas - amounting to roughly 1 out of 6 children (Whitman, 2024). An estimated 47 million children are considered to be forcibly displaced due to violence and conflict, comprising nearly half of the forcibly displaced population (UNHCR, 2024). The vast majority of these forcibly displaced children, whether they are internally displaced persons (IDPs) or international refugees, have faced significant barriers regarding their access to education as a result of their unstable environments. While all of these displaced children have experienced interruptions to their schooling, almost half of them have been removed from school entirely (GenevaGHEE, 2025). These severe educational disruptions have long-term consequences for children’s development and wellbeing, and drastically reduce their future opportunities. 

The Palestinian Context 

In Palestine, education is at a heightened risk. Since 1947, Palestinians have held the title of the world’s largest refugee population along with the most protracted displacement, as multiple generations have now been born and raised in refugee camps (Irfan, 2023). Despite these conditions, Palestinians have remained the most educated refugee population, with a literacy rate of 96.3% that is well above the global average (Koneru, 2016). Education is valued very highly amongst Palestinian families as a path away from displacement and dispossession, and Palestinian refugees began constructing make-shift classrooms and remedial education programs immediately after their exile in 1947. These efforts became formalized by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in 1950, and the UNRWA has since dedicated its largest investments towards creating an education program for Palestinian children comparable to a national education system (Irfan, 2023). The UNRWA operates within the “five fields” of Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, and is the primary organization that is providing schooling as well as vocational development and teacher training to all Palestinians (UNRWA, 2017). In 2018, over 500,000 children within Palestine relied on this humanitarian assistance in order to access education (not including internationally displaced children), with hopes of combating the average unemployment rate of 51% and cultivating a better future (UNICEF, 2018).

After October 7th

The conflict and violence that is rampant in Palestine poses acute risks towards children venturing to school, due to both significant physical access restrictions as well as a deprivation of resources required to succeed. These educational barriers have escalated significantly since the October 7th attacks in 2023 when tensions between Israel and Palestine developed into a full-scale war that continues to devastate the region (UNICEF, Dec 2024). The conditions imposed upon Palestinian civilians by Israel are so destitute that the conflict has been classified as a genocide by Amnesty International and several other international organizations (Amnesty International, 2024). The most severely affected area has been the Gaza Strip; 95% of educational facilities in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed in over 250 recorded attacks on schools. This means nearly all school infrastructure is now unusable, and the education of nearly one million Palestinian children has been disrupted. Over 650,000 Gazan children currently have no access to formal education. Long-lasting and widespread electricity and internet blackouts prevent them from using online learning resources. Additionally, critical food and water shortages are leaving many unable to focus on or continue their studies (UNICEF, 2025).  The state of education is catastrophic amongst the 1.8 million IDPs within Gaza residing in shelters and relying on humanitarian aid, and UNICEF reports that the loss of both the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic years is projected to set children’s education back by a minimum of 5 years (UNICEF Jan 2024, 2025). UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Director Adele Khodr stated, “children in the Gaza Strip have lost their homes, family members, friends, safety, and routine. They have also lost the sanctuary and stimulation provided by school, putting their bright futures at risk of being dimmed by this terrible conflict” (UNICEF, Sep 2024).

UNICEF’s Role

UNICEF is one of the most significant organizations enabling education that is currently operating both within Palestine and the surrounding Palestinian refugee camps. UNICEF has been working tirelessly in the region for decades to ensure that all Palestinian children have access to adequate quality education, as is their basic human right under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and other bodies of international law (UNICEF, 2018). UNICEF has scaled up their interventions in response to the outbreak of war, and there are several different initiatives being led or supported by UNICEF that are actively changing the lives of displaced Palestinian children:

1. Temporary Learning Spaces (TSL): TSLs are tent structures that are built in refugee and IDP camps to provide a safe and secure learning environment for displaced children. UNICEF was able to construct 424 TSLs in the Gaza Strip over 2024, as well as support over 600 other community-led initiatives, resulting in the continued education of over 100,000 children (UNICEF 2025). Through this initiative, UNICEF trains education staff acquired from the population of Palestinian IDPs to facilitate the TSLs and provides them with financial compensation for their work (UNICEF State of Palestine, 2024). UNICEF provides learning equipment and materials, as well as furniture to enable learning such as desks and mats. Additionally, UNICEF has also established support centres near TSLs to facilitate access to mental health support and connect families with social workers.

2. Learning Materials: UNICEF has engaged with many children outside of TSLs through the provision of learning materials such as stationary kits and textbooks. Over 80,000 children have received these materials in addition to those provided throughout the TSLs. These learning materials allow Palestinian children to continue their education despite harsh and changing environments that prevent them from accessing TSLs, such as aerial bombardments and severe weather (UNICEF 2025).

3. Remedial Education: UNICEF has supported over 50,000 children with remedial education efforts in after-school settings and summer camp activities in order to mitigate learning loss. Children with disabilities are at the highest risk of losing access to education, and as the rate of children with disabilities has increased due to the war, the efforts of UNICEF to ensure these children are able to continue their education is vital. Moreover, UNICEF has supported over 58,000 students to prepare for their standardized Tawjihi exams, which grants them a secondary education certificate and allows them to pursue post-secondary studies (UNICEF 2025).

4. Vocational Support: UNICEF leads many vocational programs to assist adolescent Palestinians to acquire skills that will contribute to their employability, such as the Regional Meeting on Young People’s Learning, Skilling, and Transition to Decent Work. By bridging the gap between education and employment, UNICEF is directly supporting the growth of the Palestinian economy as well as providing countless Palestinian youths with hope for future success (UNICEF 2025). 

5. Partnerships: UNICEF works in tandem with several other international and regional organizations to ensure that every child can be reached and the best possible services are provided. UNICEF works alongside the UNRWA in many areas to advance digital learning opportunities, promote the UNRWA curriculum, and coordinate the establishment of TSLs. UNICEF also works closely with the Palestinian Ministry of Education to align educational policy with national incentives, especially in relation to life skills and vocational training  (UNICEF 2025). UNICEF also partners with international governments to develop programming and direct funding, such as their Education Quality and Inclusive Programme (EQUIP) with the government of Finland to strengthen inclusive education opportunities for children with disabilities (UNICEF, Dec 2024)Laith, 10, is a student at the Asdaa Temporary Learning Space - Image from UNICEF State of Palestine (2024, November 21).

Laith, 10, is a student at the Asdaa Temporary Learning Space - Image from UNICEF State of Palestine (2024, November 21).

Laith (pictured above) is a 10 year old student at the Asdaa Temporary Learning Space in northern Gaza, along with 3500 other students. Laith told UNICEF journalists, "I’ve benefited from school; now I can read and write. I remember what lessons mean now, and it reminds me of the days in the north when I went to a clean school, with my bag, notebooks, and books. We were living a good life.” UNICEF’s TSL program has taught Laith many critical skills and has given him a sense of normalcy and routine that will be conducive to his positive development.

The Power of Learning

Constant exposure to conflict and violence, especially during the formative years of childhood, can lead to the acceptance of adverse and harmful social norms which perpetuates further violence (UNICEF, 2018). Children without access to education face an increased risk of exploitation, trafficking, early marriage, and abuse. Furthermore, economic hardships and frustrations that are alleviated through education and vocational training are often a leading cause of conflict  (UNICEF State of Palestine, 2024). Without education, children living in conflict affected areas are not able to acquire the skills and knowledge that is required to contribute to the betterment of their communities, foster harmonious coexistence, and resolve conflict peacefully. Education is strongly correlated with the rebuilding of conflict-affected societies through the wide-spread promotion of democratic environments, social justice and inclusive citizenship, social and economic development, as well as addressing the psychological effects of war and displacement (Salha et al., 2024). Education is a vital component to healing after conflict, and can be the difference between life and death for many children.

How Can You Help?

The educational efforts by both UNICEF and the UNRWA for Palestinians rely heavily on financial donations by both governments as well as individuals. Humanitarian donations allow UNICEF to procure and distribute educational materials, establish TLSs, financially compensate teachers, and maintain staff to operate programming (UNICEF, Jan 2024). There have been significant budget deficits due to shifting international priorities and reduced governmental funding that have major consequences for assistance capacity; increasing individual contributions is crucial (Irfan, 2023). By making a financial donation to either UNICEF or the UNRWA, you would directly support Palestinian children’s right to education and ability to access education services. There are also many opportunities to volunteer with both the UNICEF uOttawa club, as well as the greater UNICEF organization, to promote children’s wellbeing around the world. Additionally, continuing to educate yourself and helping to increase the awareness of the state of education for the Palestinian population can create positive change within your own community and beyond. Education is not only an essential right that should be accessible to every single child, but also an integral tool to heal from conflict and build resilient and peaceful societies.

Sources

Amnesty International. Amnesty International concludes Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. (2024, December 5). https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza 

Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies. (2025, February 5). Education in emergencies and children on the move. https://eiehub.org/education-in-emergencies-and-displacement  

Irfan, A. (2023, August 3). Why Palestinians are known as the world’s “Best educated refugees.” Columbia University Press Blog . https://cupblog.org/2023/08/23/why-palestinians-are-known-as-the-worlds-best-educated-refugeesanne-irfan/  

Koneru, S. (2016, August 20). 5 facts to know about education in Palestine. The Borgen Project. https://borgenproject.org/five-facts-to-know-about-education-in-palestine/  

Salha, S., Tlili, A., Shehata, B., Zhang, X., Endris, A., Arar, K., Mishra, S., & Jemni, M. (2024). How to maintain education during wars? an integrative approach to ensure the right to education. Open Praxis, 16(2), 160–179. https://doi.org/10.55982/openpraxis.16.2.668 

UNHCR. (2024, October 8). Refugee Data Finder. https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics  

UNICEF. (2018, September 17). Education and adolescents. UNICEF State of Palestine. United Nations. https://www.unicef.org/sop/what-we-do/education-and-adolescents 

UNICEF. (2024, January 1). 2023-2024 State of Palestine Report . United Nations. https://www.unicef.org/media/150906/file/2024-HAC-State-of-Palestine-revised-Jan.pdf 

UNICEF. (2024, September 9). 45,000 first graders unable to start the new school year in the Gaza Strip. https://www.unicef.org/mena/press-releases/45000-first-graders-unable-start-new-school-year-gaza-strip-unicef 

UNICEF. (2024, December 2). UNICEF and Finland support children with inclusive education in the State of Palestine. https://www.unicef.org/sop/press-releases/unicef-and-finland-support-children-inclusive-education-state-palestine  

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UNICEF has them back in classrooms. https://www.unicef.org/sop/stories/gazas-children-are-seeing-their-schools-destroyed-unicef-has-them-back-classrooms  

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Whitman, S. (2024, May 10). The impact of war on children worldwide. Canadian Museum of Human Rights. https://humanrights.ca/story/impact-war-children-worldwide.