More Than 90 Percent Of Schools In Gaza Destroyed, UN Expert: Skolatide Against Education Systems

Palestinian children in Khan Younis, Gaza study mathematics, reading, writing and mental support from UNICEF. (Twitter/@TedCaiban)

JAKARTA - The United Nations Special Reporter on Education Rights reports that more than 90 percent of schools in Gaza have been completely or partially destroyed, so they cannot operate.

He stated that schools in the Palestinian enclave were repeatedly attacked, even after being turned into shelters for civilians.

In Monday's statement, Shaheed stressed that the restoration of the Gaza education system mainly depends on the end of Israel's war and occupation.

He used the term "scolasticide" to describe intentional and total destruction of the education system in Gaza during the Israeli war. This term, he explained, refers to the systematic destruction of infrastructure and educational institutions, as quoted by WAFA on February 4.

While the second half of the school year began in Palestinian territory on Sunday, education in Gaza has remained completely stalled since Israel launched the war on October 7, 2023.

Israel's Genocide has destroyed most schools in Gaza, including government-run institutions and operated by the United Nations Agency for Assistance and Works for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).

On the other hand, the remaining schools have been turned into shelters for thousands of displaced families, making it almost impossible to continue education.

Shaheed also pointed out the destruction of all universities in Gaza, the bombing of 13 libraries and the total destruction of central archives containing 150 years of Gaza's historical record.

"Education is not only about obtaining skills; but also about developing self-understanding, collective identity, social unity, and moving forward together," he said.

"This is what was deliberately destroyed in Gaza. Teachers and students have suffered tremendous trauma during the Israeli attack," he stressed.

To overcome the crisis, Shaheed called for a large-scale scholarship program for Palestinian students and stressed the need to take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of highly educated Palestinians in the diaspora.

"The Palestinian people have shown extraordinary resilience," he explained.

"Even if they need a generation or two, they will recover, but only if they are allowed to live in peace and rebuild their lives in their own way."

He added that 10 children in Gaza lose their body parts every day during the war, with amputations often carried out without anesthesia.

"More than one million children and all educators will need urgent psychological and social counseling," he concluded.

The latest conflict in Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, when the Hamas-led Palestinian militant group attacked Israel's southern region, leaving 1,200 people dead and 250 others held hostage according to Israeli calculations.

Yesterday, medical sources in Gaza confirmed that the death toll from Palestine since the conflict in Gaza has reached 47,518 people, while the number of injured has reached 111,612 people, the majority are women and children, quoted from WAFA.

On January 15, the Hamas-Israel gradual ceasefire deal was announced in Doha, after months of mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

It took effect on January 19 after being delayed for several hours. The deal was followed by the exchange of hostages with detainees gradually both sides.