As part of activities to mark this year’s International Day of Education, the APPG on Global Education hosted a panel discussion in collaboration with the University of Cambridge REAL (Research for Equitable Access and Learning) Centre, and other education experts to highlight the devastating impact of conflicts on education systems in Gaza and Lebanon. The panel also explored the role of the UK government in protecting education in conflict-affected areas.
The session which held on Monday, 27th January, was chaired by Baroness Blower, the Vice Chair of the APPG on Global Education and featured a high-level panel including Professor Maha Shuayb, University of Cambridge and Centre for Lebanese Studies; Emma Wagner, Senior Education Policy & Advocacy Adviser at Save the Children UK and Co-Chair of the Send My Friend to School Campaign, Julia Dicim, Director of Education at UNRWA; Judith Herbertson, Head of Girls’ Education at FCDO.
In her opening remarks, Baroness Blower acknowledged the 80th anniversary of Holocaust Memorial Day, with the theme ‘A Better Future’. She affirmed that education is not just a tool for knowledge- it is a cornerstone for building resilience, promoting peace, and safeguarding human rights.
Professor Maha Shuayb kicked off the panel discussion by outlining major findings from the reports on the catastrophic state of Education in Gaza and Lebanon. She stressed that over 1.9 million people have been displaced due to the war in Gaza and half of them are children. As at the time of this presentation, the death toll in Gaza had risen to 47,000 civilians, with over 18,000 children among the victims. The education system in Gaza has been severely disrupted, affecting 625,000 students and 22,564 teachers, with nearly all schools destroyed by military strikes since October 2023. The systematic destruction of schools, with 226 attacks on education facilities by November 2024, leaves the future of a generation of children in jeopardy, with many losing up to five years of schooling. She highlighted that these figures reflect the real lives of children, teachers, and families facing unimaginable hardships.
Professor Shuayb (L) discussing findings from the reports on Gaza
Professor Shuayb went on to applaud the resilience of educators and students in continuing education in Lebanon despite widespread destruction of schools. She affirmed that such inspiring resilience underscores the power of education to heal and restore hope. She called for immediate support of teachers and students, with a focus on psychosocial care and educational reconstruction, particularly through UNRWA. She also urged the UK government to increase support for education in emergencies and ensure the protection of children and teachers in conflict-affected areas in line with international laws.
Emma Wagner started by recognising the efforts of her incredible colleagues in Gaza. She highlighted that only 16% of children are receiving education in Gaza, with the limited learning taking place in makeshift spaces such as tents and shelters. The “Missing Futures” report published by Save the Children UK sheds light on the extensive damage to the education system, emphasising that children’s futures are at risk due to lost learning opportunities, lack of access to essential services, and lifelong consequences of violence, malnutrition, and trauma. Ms Wagner stressed that psychological trauma is gravely affecting children’s ability to learn. She called on the UK government to take action by funding education in emergencies, and prioritising educational recovery as part of reconstruction efforts. She added that Education must be recognised as a vital part of the humanitarian response, ensuring children in Gaza have access to stability, protection, and hope.
Ms Wagner (in white) presenting
Julia Dicum thanked the APPG on Global Education and all the speakers for discussing in detail how these attacks disrupt learning, violate international law, and have long-term impacts on recovery, leaving many children traumatised, experiencing severe grief, anxiety, and detachment. She stressed that UNRWA’s education services are crucial not only for providing a basic right to education but also for offering vital psychosocial support that helps children cope with the trauma they face daily. She called on the UK government to continue funding UNRWA to ensure children not only learn but also have the opportunity to heal and regain some sense of stability.
Julia Dicum (on screen) highlighting the important work of UNRWA
In response, Judith Herbertson, acknowledged the devastating impact of ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon on education and the work of UNRWA in protecting education. She emphasised that the UK government is committed to supporting education in emergencies as a source of structure, normalcy, and hope for the future for both children/young people and their parents.
She highlighted that the conflict in Gaza has left many children without schooling, with over 10,500 students killed and trauma levels soaring. She affirmed that the UK government remains committed to supporting education through bilateral programs and funding to Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), including providing significant humanitarian aid to UNRWA for crucial education services in Gaza.
Baroness Blower (L) and Judith Herbertson (R)
Ms Herbertson emphasised the importance of equity, safety, and mental health support, particularly for children with disabilities, girls, and refugees in conflict-affected areas. She affirmed that the UK is prioritising efforts focused on improving foundational learning outcomes, enhancing climate-resilient education systems, and ensuring inclusivity for marginalised children. She concluded by reiterating the need for a sustained ceasefire and long-term education support to help rebuild after the conflict and ensure a stable future for Palestinian children.
We thank all the speakers for their valuable contributions and Parliamentarians for leading conversations on the importance of protecting education in emergencies.
For more information on the current state of education in Gaza and Lebanon, please see the following: