Ramallah – Together – The Teacher Creativity Center, in partnership with the National Authority for Non-Governmental Institutions and the Palestinian Educational Coalition, issued a report entitled ‘Violations of the Right to Education in Palestine,’ which sheds light on the reality of education in the Gaza Strip due to the recent Israeli aggression. It monitors Israeli violations, analyzes the catastrophic effects on education, and determines Human recovery needs.
The report was prepared by a group of researchers who directly experienced the crisis in the Gaza Strip, as the Teacher Creativity Center strives to have an effective role in discussing all aspects of the current situation, whether through communicating with volunteers in shelter centers, or through participating in local discussions. Regional and international, in addition to engaging in the efforts of the Educational Coalition and the Arab Campaign for Education, which works to discuss all issues related to education in the Gaza Strip and Palest
ine in general.
This report aims to analyze and document the current situation, focusing on the human and material effects of the aggression, in addition to forecasting the future with the aim of drawing attention to the facts presented and encouraging decision-makers to assume their responsibilities in protecting the rights of individuals, especially the right to education, which was supposed to be sacred but is now being threatened and sabotaged. Just as schools in the Gaza Strip were destroyed and devastated.
This report is considered a tool within the framework of accountability and monitoring, in addition to documentation, as it seeks to build a database that documents blatant violations against the educational system as a whole.
It appears that the documentation aspect has suffered from a clear deficiency since the start of the aggression, which has increased the complexity of the task of implementing this report. This report constitutes an important and targeted attempt at a critical time to deal wi
th important aspects related to the educational sector.
The Teacher Deposit Center said that it seeks for this report to be a turning point in highlighting the reality of the challenges facing this sector, noting that the numbers presented are preliminary and subject to escalation in light of the continued aggression until the date of issuance of this report.
The report also shows data related to the current aggression on Gaza that (264) teachers and administrators fell as martyrs as of February 20, 2024 and that (846) were seriously injured during the same period, and that (98) heads and professors of higher education institutions were assassinated by Israel in a planned manner until Same date.
The student was the center of the educational process, and the teacher was its most important input. Whenever teachers are targeted or their loved ones are targeted or injured, this puts them in the midst of psychological dilemmas that leave them frustrated and disappointed and marginalize their role. Thus, good ed
ucation for students cannot be achieved if one of its pillars is neglected or occupied. In a struggle for survival as a result of intentional Israeli targeting.
In addition, the report estimates the total cost of damage in the education sector at $341 million, and the report shows an accurate classification of the extensive damage to school buildings in the Gaza Strip, as schools in the Gaza Strip were subjected to direct and partial targeting, with the percentage of direct targeting of school buildings reaching 61% for schools. Government, 44% for UNRWA schools, and 44% for private schools. The report’s data indicates that the rates of destruction in schools vary from one region to another, as the percentage of total and partial destruction in schools reached 62.9% in northern Gaza, 28.6% in Gaza, 14.3% in central Gaza, 22.9% in Khan Yunis, and 17.1%. In Rafah.
This assessment confirms the widespread destruction to the educational sector in Gaza, affecting a total of 813 schools operating in these building
s.
The report also focuses on humanitarian violations and massive human losses, as the total number of martyrs includes 30,365 martyrs and 74,925 wounded, including more than 5,000 students and 240 teachers, as of the date of preparing the report. The educational process was suspended due to the closure of 563 schools in the Gaza Strip, depriving approximately 620,000 students of their right to education. Forced displacement also led to the conversion of 288 schools into shelters for displaced people, including 155 UNRWA schools.
The devastation extended beyond human casualties to infrastructure and housing, with 355,000 housing units completely destroyed and 622 attacks launched on health facilities. Academics and university students in the Gaza Strip were also subjected to direct and deliberate targeting, as this led to the martyrdom of 98 academic, scientific and intellectual figures. In addition, the Israeli occupation targeted all 12 universities in Gaza, whether by completely destroying them or conver
ting them into military barracks, detention centers, and interrogation centers.
The report explains that the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip has had profound psychological effects on students and teachers, which exacerbates the existing difficult conditions. Studies conducted by UNRWA and Save the Children revealed high rates of trauma and psychological stress among students, with the current situation worsening.
The Israeli occupation forces deliberately target teachers, exposing teachers to situations of suffering and trauma. Furthermore, Palestinian students in Gaza are exposed to serious psychological impacts, including psychological stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, panic, and loss of psychological security.
The impact of the war was not limited to the psychological and mental state of students only, but was also evident in basic needs such as nutrition. The impact of poor nutrition on academic achievement has been clearly documented by international organizations such as UNICEF and UNESCO. Poor nutr
ition affects cognitive development and learning abilities.
Preliminary results from investigations into malnutrition in Gaza during the current aggression show a significant increase in acute malnutrition rates, with tragic consequences including child deaths. The Israeli occupation used a policy of forced starvation of civilians by restricting humanitarian aid, which constitutes genocide under Article 6 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
The report highlighted the need to give priority to recovery efforts, especially in the educational sector, as education must be protected as a basic human right, and achieving this requires a commitment to international cooperation. The basis for these interventions was identified in resolutions such as United Nations General Assembly Resolution (290), which emphasizes Access to education during emergencies and condemn attacks on educational institutions.
Urgent interventions during the ongoing aggression must prioritize psychological support, coor
dination with local and international partners, needs assessments, and various activities that help affected children and caregivers at the local level. Response efforts include reviewing education strategies, building educational programs, assessing needs, and providing urgent supplies. And mobilize local alliances to support education in Gaza.
At the regional and international levels, protecting education in Gaza amid Israeli military targeting is extremely important, and requires intensive efforts for urgent intervention and increased funding to ensure the continuity of education after the aggression.
In conclusion, the team participating in the report hopes that it will have a positive impact in highlighting the reality of the challenges facing education in the Gaza Strip, calls for joint responsibility in protecting the right of individuals to fair and comprehensive education, and stresses the need to intensify efforts to stop the war and provide humanitarian aid. necessary for those affected.
Source
: Maan News Agency