AKU-IED's Kazim Bacchus Research Seminar (KBRS), featured a poignant presentation by Professor Yusuf Sayed on the findings of the University of Cambridge's report, Palestinian Education Under Attack in Gaza.
In his presentation, Professor Sayed underscored the devastating toll of ongoing conflict on education in Gaza, highlighting that education is often the first casualty during war. This disruption, he explained, not only denies basic human rights but also threatens the future of children and communities.
The report delves into four critical dimensions of the crisis: Nature of Attacks - systematic targeting of schools and educational facilities; Impacts on Learning - disrupted schooling and loss of educational opportunities; Effects on Families and Communities - widespread trauma and dislocation; and Consequences for Teachers and Their Work - loss of lives and livelihoods, with thousands of teachers affected.
The statistics shared during the seminar painted a harrowing picture. By July 2024, 1.9 million Gazans had been displaced, with 1 million seeking shelter in UNRWA installations, including schools. Over 40,000 Palestinians had lost their lives by August 2024, including 10,627 children and 411 teachers. Additionally, 15,394 students and 2,411 teachers were among the 94,000 injured during the conflict.
Despite the loss of 90% of Gaza's educational infrastructure and the repurposing of many schools as shelters, Professor Sayed emphasised the resilience of the Palestinian people. Education, he noted, serves not only as a pathway to knowledge but also as a form of resistance and a means of preserving identity amidst adversity.
To rebuild and strengthen the education sector in Gaza, Professor Sayed outlined several critical steps, including: increasing budget allocations for education, providing psychological support and foundational learning opportunities, enhancing child protection and teacher well-being; and expanding the supply of trained teachers and counsellors.
He urged the international community to engage actively in supporting these efforts, stressing that the crisis transcends religious divides and constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights.
Concluding his presentation with a call to action, Professor Sayed said, “We are complicit if we don't act. We owe it to the children of Gaza to protect and promote their right to education."
The seminar left attendees with a profound sense of moral responsibility, underscoring the urgent need for collective efforts to safeguard education in conflict zones.
