Qatar‑Backed Education Above All Foundation Completes 100 Learning Spaces in Gaza

Qatar‑Backed Education Above All Foundation Completes 100 Learning Spaces in Gaza

 In partnership with the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the Education Above All Foundation (EAA) has announced the completion of 100 learning spaces across 10 school sites in the Gaza Strip, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme/Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP), the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE), and the Gaza Culture and Development Group.

The initiative forms part of the broader program “Rebuilding Hope for Gaza: Emergency Support for High School Exam (Tawjihi)”, designed to restore access to safe, structured, and dignified learning environments for children and youth whose education has been severely disrupted by war.

The completed sites, located in North Gaza, Gaza City, and the Middle Area, include protective fencing and transitional structured school units to provide secure spaces for formal learning.

EAA CEO emphasized: “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.”

Palestinian Minister of Education Dr. Amjad Barham said the project is a cornerstone of the ministry’s recovery plan, prioritizing the restoration of in‑person education. He noted that the schools will complement virtual initiatives to address learning loss and support exam preparation.

UNDP Special Representative Jaco Cilliers added: “Education is a cornerstone of resilience. This intervention goes beyond infrastructure to re‑establish functioning systems that allow students to continue learning and communities to regain stability.”

The 10 school sites will operate alongside 128 learning centers across Gaza, supported by UNDP/PAPP, with relief housing units repurposed for administration and storage, and latrine facilities provided to ensure safe conditions.

The strengthened network will enable MOEHE to conduct the Tawjihi General Secondary examinations, scheduled to begin on June 20, 2026. This marks the first round of in‑person Tawjihi exams in Gaza since 2023, following earlier participation by more than 60,000 students, with another 30,000 students set to sit for exams in upcoming cycles.

Officials said the milestone represents a critical step toward restoring formal education pathways and national assessment systems for Gaza’s students.