Palestinian Educational Environment

Higher education in Palestine is a tool of resilience in the face of occupation. Around 47% of Palestinian youth are enrolled in universities, yet movement restrictions, security barriers, and economic hardship continue to hinder equal access. Illiteracy has dropped to just 3.2%, one of the lowest rates in the region, thanks to national efforts and community initiatives. However, many students still struggle to afford tuition, especially in Gaza where poverty exceeds 65%. Repeated wars, electricity and internet cuts, and displacement have denied tens of thousands of children their right to education.

Palestinian society faces a shortage of basic digital skills, with 70% of youth lacking these skills in 2024, limiting sustainable job opportunities. There is an urgent need for specializations such as cybersecurity, renewable energy, and crisis management to meet market demands and foster development in the complex Palestinian context.

Repeated arrests remain one of the most serious challenges to the educational journey of Palestinian students. Since October 2023, over 12,100 arrests have been recorded in the West Bank and Jerusalem — including 795 children, over 440 women, and 141 wounded individuals. The widespread nature of these arrests causes prolonged disruptions for students, forcing them to miss school and university for extended periods, which delays their academic progress. The situation becomes even more severe when arrests happen during exam periods, depriving students of key academic milestones. The psychological pressure resulting from arrests significantly impacts students' ability to focus and engage within the educational environment — making this phenomenon a real threat to the stability of education in Palestine.

In 2024, Israeli attacks led to the destruction of over 800 educational institutions, with 137 fully destroyed and 357 partially damaged. All Gaza universities were targeted, including 51 university buildings and 57 schools completely demolished. Vocational centers, 7 other universities, and refugee education facilities were also hit — leaving over 350,000 students without access to education. UN reports confirm the destruction was mostly due to direct military targeting.