Doha, May 05 (QNA) - In cooperation with Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), Education Above All Foundation (EAA), announced the completion of 100 learning spaces across 10 school sites in the Gaza Strip, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme/Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP), the The Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and the Gaza Culture and Development Group.
The Fondation said in a statement on Tuesday that this intervention marks a significant step towards restoring access to safe, structured, and dignified learning environments for children and youth whose education has been severely disrupted by the war. It forms part of the broader partnership, "Rebuilding Hope for Gaza: Emergency Support for High School Exam (Tawjihi) for Gaza Students," which aims to support the continuity of formal education and national examination processes in Gaza.
The statement noted that the completed school sites are located across North Gaza, Gaza City, and the Middle Area, helping expand equitable access to education during a period of immense need. Civil works included the installation of protective fencing and the establishment of transitional structured school units designed to support formal learning and provide students with a safer environment to continue their education.
In this context, CEO of Education Above All Foundation, said, "Education is a lifeline for children and youth in Gaza. The completion of these 100 learning spaces represents an important step towards restoring hope, dignity, and a pathway back to learning for thousands of students whose education has been interrupted by conflict."
Through EAA's partnership with UNDP/PAPP, and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE), Gaza Culture and Development Group, and with the support of QFFD, EAA Foundation remains committed to supporting practical solutions that help children continue their education, even in the most difficult circumstances, he added.
For his part, Minister of Education and Higher Education of Palestine, Dr. Amjad Barham, said that launching this project represents a fundamental pillar in the Ministry's recovery plan, which places the restoration of in-person education in the Gaza Strip at the forefront of its strategic priorities.
"Enabling students to return to well-equipped classrooms is essential to safeguarding their right to a dignified future. These schools will complement virtual school initiatives to address learning loss and support exam preparation," Dr. Barham added.
In turn, Special Representative of the Administrator, Jaco Cilliers, said, "The completion of these 100 learning spaces reflects UNDP's commitment to supporting early recovery and restoring essential services in Gaza."
"Education is a cornerstone of resilience, and this intervention goes beyond infrastructure to help re-establish functioning systems that allow students to continue learning and communities to regain a sense of stability. Through partnerships with national institutions and international partners, we are working to create the conditions for children and youth to access safe, structured education and to contribute to the longer-term recovery in Gaza," he noted.
The 10 school sites will operate as part of a broader education network alongside 128 learning centers across the Gaza Strip, where UNDP/PAPP is supporting the establishment of essential infrastructure to enable the continuity of education. Relief Housing Units will also be repurposed to support school administration and storage functions, alongside the provision of latrine facilities to ensure safe and dignified learning conditions.
The strengthened network of schools and learning centers will play a pivotal role in enabling MOEHE to conduct the Tawjihi General Secondary examinations, scheduled to begin on June 20, 2026. This will mark the first round of in-person Tawjihi examinations in Gaza since 2023, following the participation of more than 60,000 students in examinations conducted earlier this year, with the remaining 30,000 students scheduled to sit for their exams in cycles starting in June.
The milestone represents an important step towards restoring formal education pathways and national assessment systems for students across the Gaza Strip. (QNA)
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