Gaza is entering its second year without school. Most children are forced to help their families in the daily struggle to survive Israel’s devastating military campaign, AP reports.
Aid workers say prolonged deprivation of educational opportunities threatens to cause long-term damage to Gaza’s children. Young children are left behind in cognitive, social and emotional development. Teenagers are at risk of dropping out of school and entering work or marriage prematurely.
According to Tess Ingram, UNICEF Regional Representative, the longer a child is out of school, the greater the risk that they will drop out permanently and not return. Some 625,000 school-aged children in Gaza have already missed almost a full year of school.
Schools were closed after Israel began fighting Hamas. Negotiations on a ceasefire are dragging on and it is unclear when schoolchildren will be able to return to classes.
