Amman, Sept 19 (Petra) – The new academic year for students in the Gaza Strip began on Saturday under exceptional circumstances following a three-year hiatus caused by Israel's war which kept children from classrooms.

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education said the start of the 2026/2027 academic year came after the necessary arrangements were put in place and the situation was assessed with multiple educational pathways adopted to accommodate the condition of all students, both inside and outside the enclave.

The Ministry attributed the delayed start of the academic year to technical and logistical reasons, as well as for weather reasons and high temperatures, particularly given that a large number of students will be receiving their education in tents and caravans.

It said the educational process will proceed along two primary tracks, in-person and virtual, to ensure educational continuity and the progression of students' learning. The in-person learning is designated for students currently within the Strip who are able to attend physical schools.

The Ministry’s plan for Gaza relies on expanding in-person education through setting up about 700 educational points distributed across various areas, in addition to 25 temporary schools expected to be handed over soon.

The total number of students in Gaza stands at approximately 541,000, including about 100,000 in schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

Alongside in-person education, virtual schooling will continue for students unable to attend physical learning centers, as well as for students from Gaza currently located outside the Strip.

Virtual schools catering to Gaza students abroad serve approximately 20,000 students, while virtual schools within the Strip target around 70,000 students who cannot access in-person education.

The Ministry is preparing to launch the "eSchool" communication platform for the Strip, tailored to the region, coinciding with the start of the academic year, which is aimed to enhance communication between students and educational staff.

Remote programs for psychological support, counseling, and crisis intervention will also continue, alongside technical support to address urgent issues facing students and staff.

To support and enhance interactive learning in schools, 1,926 schools have been connected to high-speed fiber-optic internet over the past few months, ensuring that the vast majority of schools are equipped with high-performance internet access.

To guarantee a supportive educational environment and reliable energy supplies, the number of schools equipped with solar power systems has reached over 900, about 45 percent of all schools, with work underway to equip dozens more in the near future.

In the West Bank, about 846,000 students enrolled in schools on September 5 for the start of the 2026/2027 academic year.

//Petra//SS