MPs call for action to provide education to children of Gaza
Professor Maha Shuayb (Centre for Lebanese Studies and the University of Cambridge), Emma Wagner (Save the Children), Julia Dicum (UNRWA), Judith Herbertson (FCDO) at the APPG on Global Education’s panel event on Education under Attack.
The conflict in Gaza has killed more than 10,000 children and resulted in lasting harm for those that have survived.
The essential things that children need to survive, develop and reach their potential, including access to education, have been destroyed.
There is an urgent need for more support to restore educational services and get children back to school.
The recovery and rebuilding of Gaza’s education system must be prioritised and supported by the international community.
On January 27, 2025, the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Global Education, in collaboration with the Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre at the University of Cambridge, hosted a meeting on the devastating impact of the current conflict on education in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, and Lebanon.
The event heard from Professor Maha Shuayb from the Centre for Lebanese Studies and the University of Cambridge, Emma Wagner from Save the Children, Julia Dicum UNRWA’s Director of Education, and the FCDO’s Judith Herbertson.
The event was chaired by Baroness Christine Blower, Co-Chair of the APPG and the eleventh General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, now the National Education Union.
Professor Shuayb shared the results of research into the immediate and enduring effects of educational disruption, which has impacted the learning of 625,000 students.
Participants heard that the widespread destruction of Gaza has eviscerated infrastructure and services, eradicating a safe and healthy environment for surviving children to grow up in.
Professor Shuayb shared the results of research into the immediate and enduring effects of educational disruption, which has impacted the learning of 625,000 students.
“The conflict has resulted in lasting harm for all Gaza’s children, as the key elements that children need to survive, develop and reach their potential, including access to education, have been systematically destroyed,” said Professor Shuayb.
“Almost all school buildings in Gaza have been either entirely or partially destroyed, which underscores the urgent need for immediate support to restore education and for long term investment to rebuild the entire education system.
The conflict – the relentless bombardment, the decimation of vital services and the imminent famine has translated into a destruction of the fundamental tenets of childhood.
Save the Children found that children have no escape from the reality of war, no stable routine, no opportunity to learn or play – and for many, no family. These are essential protective factors that children need to mitigate against the risk of lasting mental harm.
Save the Children found that children have no escape from the reality of war, no stable routine, no opportunity to learn or play – and for many, no family. These are essential protective factors that children need to mitigate against the risk of lasting mental harm.
“Children in Gaza have consistently expressed that going back to school is one of their top priorities. It provides them with a sense of normalcy, opportunities to play with friends and to continue to develop skills and knowledge for their futures. It should be the top priority of the international community too,” said Ms Wagner.
“Today’s event has highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict in Gaza on children. We need a permanent end to the conflict and a concerted effort to deliver accountability, restore basic services, including education and a longer term plan that supports reconstruction in Gaza,” said Shockat Adam, Member of Parliament for Leicester South.
“We must ensure that education is central to this, that children can return to learning immediately, including by using technology, that schools are rebuilt and that teachers are supported and able to return to work.”
Call to action
The panel concluded with a strong call to action for policymakers and the international community to prioritise education in both the humanitarian response and reconstruction effort, including by supporting:
Actions for restoring education now
Support psychosocial needs through recreational activities and trauma counselling.
Provide foundational learning support.
Support disability needs, including access to assistive devices.
Provide safe learning spaces, protected by international humanitarian law.
Support teachers and counsellors for their own basic needs and wellbeing.
Reestablish a child protection system for effective specialist support referral.
Actions for rebuilding the education system
Return to accredited learning, complemented by supportive learning programmes.
Revise relevant learning resources and materials for recovery and reconstruction.
Provide new modalities for learning, including appropriate technology, where relevant.
Support the needs of disabled children and young people.
Build schools, starting with semi-permanent structures quickly, while planning for permanent education infrastructure as soon as possible, ensuring accessibility.
Adopt a multi-sectoral approach, incorporating psychosocial and trauma counselling, school feeding, health schemes and WASH facilities.
Increase supply of teachers and counsellors taking account of replacing those lost due to killing, displacement, and leaving Gaza, and the even greater needs of children and young people.
Support needs of teachers and counsellors, including those injured and with disabilities.
Actions for meaningful and effective international commitment
Uphold international humanitarian law immediately, including stopping attacks on schools and other education facilities, and stopping the killing, injury and other forms of violence on children and young people, teachers, and humanitarian workers.
Lift the humanitarian blockade, ensuring immediate access to learning provisions.
Increase education funding immediately.
Enhance coordination between international agencies and INGOs, ensuring support for education and child protection are connected.
Recognise and support UNRWA as a key provider of education for Palestinians.
Actions for centring Palestinian perspectives
Engage Palestinian children, young people, teachers, counsellors, caregivers, and their communities in any planning now and in the future.
Support a comprehensive education needs assessment led by Palestinians as soon as feasible.
Link recovery plan of Gaza with wider Palestinian education reconstruction approach, in alignment with the Conflict Recovery Framework.
uction approach, in alignment with the Conflict Recovery Framework.
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