The state of education in Gaza is close to completely devastated at each level of learning. Before October 2023, it was thriving: adult literacy stood at about 97%, among the highest rates in the world, and enrollment in higher education reached roughly 45%.

In the years since, Gaza’s education community has suffered immense losses. The Gaza Ministry of Education reported, in figures relayed by the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and not independently verified by the UN, that as of Oct. 28, 2025, more than 18,591 students and 791 education staff had been killed, while more than 27,216 students and 3,251 teachers had been injured. A January 2026 report from the University of Cambridge described students whose ambitions had narrowed to, in their words, surviving “another day.”

The Impact on Universities

Higher education has faced catastrophic devastation. A November 2025 assessment by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Arab World for Research and Development found that 95% of Gaza’s 38 university campuses had been affected, with 22 completely destroyed. The loss of academic infrastructure, alongside the trauma of the war, has presented major obstacles to higher education in the region. Despite this, students hold onto hope alongside nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations working to restore it.

UNESCO’s Educational Initiatives

The first phase of UNESCO’s Gaza Virtual Campus began in October 2025. It currently reaches up to 20% of Gaza’s higher education students, with plans to expand to about 30%, ultimately allowing more than 30,000 students to resume degree programs virtually. The learning sessions serve about 60 students at a time, with technological and academic equipment provided, acknowledging that many students have lost their homes and belongings.

UNESCO has also established five temporary higher education learning spaces in partnership with Al-Quds Open University and the Islamic University of Gaza. The UN reports that these centers serve 13,800 tertiary students, including 6,912 women, while integrating mental health and psychosocial support into their services.

Nonprofit Efforts to Support Students

Taawon, a nonprofit civic organization, plays a significant role in supporting higher education in Gaza through its ISNAD campaign, which funds scholarships for students enrolled at Al Azhar, Al Aqsa and the Islamic University. Since 2024, Taawon reports it has supported 6,274 students, with 2,261 graduating and entering the job market.

Another initiative is the collaborative HEAL Palestine and Reach Education Fund Diploma Release Program. Many students in Gaza have completed their university studies but cannot graduate due to a lack of finances, creating a barrier to employment and further education. As of this year, the organizations have facilitated more than 340 diploma releases for university students, opening new academic and professional futures for Gazans.

Why Higher Education Matters

Preserving the path to higher education for students in Gaza is part of the larger effort to address the humanitarian crisis in the region. Creating safe, supported spaces for university students to study protects the next generation of Gazan professionals, intellectuals, leaders and advocates. Initiatives by organizations such as UNESCO, Taawon, HEAL Palestine and Reach Education Fund show that educational continuity remains a critical component of humanitarian response, providing students with academic opportunities, community and hope.

– Nilani Mathur

Nilani is based in Longmeadow, MA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay