The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has sounded a stark alarm about the state of education across Arab states, warning that ongoing regional conflict has left more than 100 million children without reliable access to learning.
According to a UNESCO report released on Monday, the crisis has impacted at least 15 countries, disrupting schooling for 52 million school‑age children through closures, reduced capacity or a sudden shift to remote lessons. Even before the latest escalation, nearly 30 million children in the region were already out of school, underscoring a pre‑existing educational deficit.
In the Gaza Strip, the situation is especially dire. The education system there has suffered a near‑total collapse, with 97.5 % of schools either damaged or destroyed and more than 637 000 children left without a classroom to attend.
Education experts warn that prolonged disruption risks a generation of lost potential, compounding humanitarian hardship and threatening long‑term stability. The loss of schools not only halts learning but also removes safe spaces for children who rely on them for nutrition, health care and psychosocial support.
The UNESCO findings call for urgent international assistance to rebuild educational infrastructure, provide remote‑learning solutions and ensure that children caught in conflict can return to safe, inclusive classrooms.
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Conflict disrupts education for over 100 mln children in Arab states
cgtn.com
