UNRWA and other humanitarian organisations have set up temporary tent classrooms across Gaza to accommodate students whose schools were destroyed or severely damaged during the latest round of hostilities. The makeshift facilities, erected in open spaces and near community centres, are now hosting a large number of children who have been out of formal education for extended periods.
According to Al Jazeera, the shift to tent schools follows a prolonged disruption that saw many school buildings rendered unusable by shelling and fire. The temporary structures are equipped with basic furniture and whiteboards, and are supplied with limited electricity and water through generators and portable tanks. Teachers, many of whom have also been displaced, are returning to work under challenging conditions, often commuting long distances to reach the sites.
The education response is being coordinated with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, which has issued guidelines for curriculum delivery and student safety in the temporary settings. Health and psychosocial support services are also being integrated into the learning environment to address trauma among pupils who have witnessed violence.
Enrollment figures released by UNRWA indicate that a significant proportion of school‑age children in Gaza have re‑enrolled, though exact numbers remain fluid due to ongoing displacement. The agency stresses that the tent schools are intended as an interim solution while reconstruction of permanent school buildings proceeds.
Rebuilding efforts face numerous obstacles, including restrictions on the import of construction materials and the need to clear debris from heavily damaged sites. International donors have pledged additional funding to accelerate the restoration of educational infrastructure, but timelines remain uncertain.
The situation underscores the broader impact of protracted conflict on Gaza’s social services, with education being a critical sector for the region’s recovery. Stakeholders continue to call for sustained humanitarian assistance and a durable cease‑fire to enable the full return to normal schooling conditions.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Al Jazeera — All News — original source: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/9/20/back-to-school-in-gaza-learning-in-tents-after-years-of-disruption?traffic_source=rss.