Thousands of children dropping out of school in Gaza as ongoing blockade deepens humanitarian crisis
Almost 2,000 children have dropped out of school in Gaza in the past five months because families can no longer afford to send their children to school says International aid organisation Save the Children.
Thursday 7 February 2008
Save the Children has learnt from the Ministry of Education in Gaza that from September 2007 to 1 February 2008 an estimated 1,890 children have been forced out of the classroom to look for a job and help provide financial support to their families.
As the new school term starts this week a quarter of a million children will be returning to 374 government run schools following the winter break. The ongoing blockade of Gaza is exasperating levels of poverty which are having a devastating impact on children.
More than 52 per cent of Gaza's 1.5 million population is under the age of 18. According to the Ministry of Education girls aged between 16-17 are most vulnerable when it comes to dropping out of school as increasing numbers of girls marry early to relieve the economic pressure on their parents.
The Ministry of Education has had to transfer 915 students from private schools to government schools in Gaza because parents can no longer afford school fees. Overcrowding in classrooms has increased which has a negative impact on teaching standards. Most schools in Gaza already operate in three shifts to accommodate the number of children in classrooms.
Across Gaza, the electricity shortage is disrupting teaching hours and shortening the school day. Its winter and lighting is not good especially in the mornings. Many school windows are missing glass panels because there is a shortage of material so teachers are being forced to teach in very cold classrooms with no heaters.
"The winter holiday was very bad because of electricity cuts. Sometimes we spent a whole day without running water at home. We cannot get hot water and have to use a cooking pot to heat water so we can shower", Ghada, 12 year old student in Gaza.
"I cannot study well when I use the chargeable light. The lighting is weak and it affects my eyes. I cannot concentrate on my studies because all my family members sit around the light as it's the only light we have" Assma, 15 year old student in Gaza.
Computers and photocopiers are not working properly due to the lack of electricity. Shortages of paper and ink and other material has led to the rationing of school books. Only six books from 64 titles needed to teach this semester have been printed so far.
Save the Children workers in Gaza have noticed anxiety levels among children increasing as military attacks and incursions into Gaza continue. Teachers report that many children are finding it hard to concentrate on their studies and appear withdrawn and agitated.
"From talking to children and teachers I have noticed that violence and tension has increased between students, especially among poor students who are not getting good marks. Some school children also told me that they do not feel safe at school. One reasons is because students, especially boys are fighting with each other more than before" said Rana Elhindi, Save the Children aid worker in Gaza.
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For more information or to arrange an interview with Rana Elhindi in Gaza please contact the Save the Children Media Unit on: +44 (0) 207 012 6469 or Shaista Aziz on: +44 (0) 7767 007183
Notes to Editors
Save the Children works across the occupied Palestinian Territories focusing on education and child rights and providing health services to vulnerable communities. Save the Children is responding to the ongoing emergency in Gaza by working with Palestinian organisations to supply clean and safe drinking water to communities.
Save the Children's Rewrite the Future campaign was launched in 2006 to get children living in the worlds conflict zones back into school. More than half of all children out of school live in countries affected by conflict. Save the Children's campaign aims to ensure access to education for three million children and improve the quality of education for these children and more.
