“Education is the only asset the Palestinian people have not been dispossessed of. They have proudly invested in the education of their children in the hope for a better future. Today, more than 625,000 deeply traumatised school-aged children are living in the rubble in Gaza. Bringing them back to learning should be our collective priority.” – Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner General.
The education system in Gaza is in dire need of reinstitution. With formal education coming to a halt since October of 2023, the loss of learning in a population in which children represented nearly half (47.3%) has been extreme. As of August 2024, Israeli attacks have killed over 10,627 children and 411 teachers, and injured at least 15,394 students and 2,411 teachers (UN). Schools turned into shelters from Israeli military attacks, often being bombarded against international humanitarian law. Over 90% of schools in Gaza have been damaged, many of which are beyond repair (UNRWA). With over 17 years of blockade and attacks prior to the genocide on Gaza, education in Gaza has crumbled. As of August 2024, more than 625,000 school-age children in Gaza have gone a full year without formal education and 90,000 higher education students have found their education disrupted as all 12 of Gaza’s higher education institutions had been destroyed or damaged (ACAPS).
Despite such staggering statistics, only 3.5% of aid for Gaza was invested in education as of September, 2024. Mothers of Hind is working to counter this narrative in two ways:
- The Mothers of Hind (MoH) School Series
Through this initiative, MoH aims to establish makeshift schools for primary stage students. These schools will be equipped with essential teaching materials, including physical classrooms, desks, and textbooks, ensuring that children once again have access to foundational education.Recognizing that education in Gaza must not ignore the trauma of the past 15 months, MoH will offer comprehensive support beyond academics. This includes providing hot meals, winter clothing, and on-site medical care through a dedicated nurse and psychotherapist. Understanding the profound trauma that students carry as they return to school in the aftermath of genocide, MoH is committed to creating a safe, nurturing space that addresses both their educational and psychological well-being. - Hind’s Higher Education Network (HIEN – هيّن)
MoH is uniting a global network of academics to provide expertise, teaching materials, and recorded lectures for students across all Higher Education disciplines. This initiative seeks to bridge the severe educational gaps caused by the genocide, ensuring that students in Gaza have access to high-quality learning resources despite the destruction of universities and ongoing disruptions to their studies.
In close collaboration with Higher Education authorities in Gaza, MoH is developing an extensive online platform to serve as a central repository of academic knowledge, offering tailored support to both students and educators in war-affected regions. This platform will not only provide course materials but also facilitate mentorship, research collaboration, and academic networking, helping to sustain and rebuild the intellectual and professional aspirations of Gaza’s youth. By leveraging global academic solidarity, MoH aims to create the largest open-access database of Higher Education resources dedicated to supporting those whose education has been forcibly interrupted by conflict.
