As students around the world excitedly return to school, the situation in Gaza is vastly different. Over 625,000 children in Gaza remain out of school due to the ongoing war, with their once-familiar routines shattered by violence and displacement.
For teachers like myself, the beginning of the school year used to be a special time filled with joy and anticipation. I would prepare new study plans, buy fresh stationery, and get excited about meeting my new fifth-grade students. Parents and children shared this excitement, filling markets to shop for uniforms and school supplies, eager for the first day back. Gaza’s children, radiant with joy on their first day, were a sight to behold.
But now, all of that is gone.
Memories of School Days
The war has taken away more than just buildings and infrastructure; it has stripped children of their education and routines. Mothers, like Lina al-Saadi, feel the deep pain of this loss. Lina, a displaced mother of four, recalls the joy of preparing her daughter Kenzi for what would have been her first day of school. Now, they live in a tent, and her children are forced to play in the sand or search for water instead of learning in a classroom.
“I miss washing their uniforms, making their sandwiches, and helping them study,” Lina says with heartbreak. The simplicity of school routines has been replaced by a struggle for survival in a war-torn landscape.
Education Lost
This sentiment is shared by many others. Samar Barbakh, another mother from Gaza City, reminisces about the walks by the sea after dropping her children at school. Now, she fears for their future as days of war pass without an end in sight.
Children, too, are feeling the weight of this disruption. Rima al-Kurd, an 11-year-old seventh-grader, misses her mathematics teacher and the carefree moments with friends during school breaks. “I can’t believe we’ll lose this year too,” she says, praying daily for the war to stop so she can return to her beloved school.
A Generation Left Behind
With more than 85% of Gaza’s schools destroyed, students are deprived of an entire academic year. As the rest of the world begins a new school term, Gaza remains in limbo. The war continues, and children who once dreamed of a better future are now left to wonder if they’ll ever return to the classroom.
The destruction of schools has deepened the humanitarian crisis, creating a generation of children who are losing not just their homes but their right to education. For them, the beginning of the school year is no longer a time of joy but a reminder of what’s been lost.
