Gaza is one of the most dangerous places in the world to learn and teach – over 400 teachers have died in the war
On 5 October, World Teachers’ Day, our thoughts turn to Gaza, where children and young people living in the midst of war have been deprived of formal education for almost a year. FCA’s new work in Gaza focuses on education and psychosocial support in a difficult humanitarian situation
GAZA is currently one of the most dangerous places in the world for learning and teaching.
“The situation in schools in Gaza is catastrophic and children are severely traumatised. They have not been able to go to school for a whole year, which is particularly important for children in crisis. Schools and professional teachers offer children a routine and a chance to forget about the war, if only for a moment,” says Sabina Bergholm , FCA Country Director.
World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on 5 October to remind people of the importance of the work that teachers do and the importance of investing in their training and working conditions.
In Gaza, teachers do not have the opportunity to work in a safe environment.
Over 10,000 school children and more than 400 teachers and other education professionals have been killed in the Gaza war this year. In addition, more than 16,000 students and 2,400 teachers have been wounded, according to data from the Ministry of Education in Gaza, available via the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as of 2 October 2024.
Around 625,000 schoolchildren and students in Gaza have no access to formal education. 87% of school buildings have either been destroyed or severely damaged.
In September 2024 alone, 17 air strikes hit Gaza schools. According to OCHA data, 14 schools were occupied by refugees at the time of the attacks. Attacking schools is a violation of international humanitarian law.
“Schools should never be the target of bombing. During the war in Gaza, schools have also been used as shelters for refugees. Attacks on schools have killed and injured a huge number of civilians. When the war ends, it will also be difficult to resume teaching in schools, because either there are no schools or they have been damaged in the war,” said Bergholm.
FCA starts education and psychosocial support work in Gaza
Education in emergencies is at the core of FCA’s work. In the midst of crises and disasters, schooling offers children both the opportunity to continue learning and a sense of security and routine.
As part of its new regional humanitarian assistance operation, FCA has recently launched a programme to increase access to schooling and psychosocial support in Gaza.
Working with partner organisations, the programme will focus on reaching out to traumatised and war-affected children, teachers, and other adults around them.
“A temporary school will be set up in Gaza City to provide a range of after-school activities, support and additional education. Gazan teachers will be involved and will be offered psychosocial support and the opportunity to participate in training on teaching in crisis situations,” said Bergholm.
The project is also significant because students who have been caught up in the war have been without formal education for almost a year. Only a small number of children and young people in Gaza have been able to participate in non-formal school activities during the year.
“Teachers are both facilitators of learning for children and important adults who provide security and support during difficult times in their lives. This is why FCA is investing in supporting and further training teachers in the midst of the crisis. We have seen the positive impact that a competent teacher can have on their students,” says Bergholm.
The war in Gaza has also complicated the situation in the occupied West Bank, where FCA’s volunteer network Teachers Without Borders has continued to support teachers over the past year.
Further information and interview requests:
Country Director Sabina Bergholm, +358 40 669 3930, sabina.bergholm@kua.fi
Photo shows Gazan children attending a lesson in a tent school in the town of Deir-al-Balah in central Gaza on 28 September 2024. Only a small number of Gazan children have been able to participate in a school-like activity in the past year. File photo from Xinhua.