He now attends the Deir al-Balah Joint Primary School run by the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA).
Despite the old furniture and the few drawings that illuminate the walls of the classrooms of a school visited by our UN News correspondent, the children’s excitement at returning there after months of seeking refuge from the bombs remains intact.
One of Sham’s classmates, Asil Al-Loh, spoke enthusiastically about how he felt: “We want to learn and play, and study all the subjects like we did before. Now we only study Arabic, English and mathematics.”
Palestinian student Sham al-Abd at the UNRWA-run Deir al-Balah coeducational primary school.
Attempt to restore normality
Following the ceasefire in Gaza, UNRWA is working to restore a sense of normality to schools that had previously been used as shelters.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini announced that the agency is expanding its “Return to Learning” program in Gaza, offering both in-person and online education.
At Deir al-Balah Joint Primary School, signs of transformation from shelter to school are still evident. Our correspondent saw families cooking in the hallways, while tents still occupy the school yard.
When young student Shahd al-Bahisi returned to Deir al-Balah, she said she found the area “destroyed” and that “many displaced people were still there.”
Students sit on the floor while attending classes at the UNRWA-run Deir al-Balah coeducational primary school.
Despite this, Shahd seems determined to return to her studies.
Some classrooms still do not have enough chairs and their floors are covered with tarps and blankets. However, enthusiasm and determination are shining through.
An opportunity for ‘life, dignity and education’
“To date, more than 62,000 students have benefited from temporary learning services through these core educational activities since their launch on August 1, 2024,” according to Inas Hamdam, UNRWA spokesperson.
The Deir al-Balah school is one of those converted into a shelter, but UNRWA continues to open additional temporary learning spaces, Ms. Hamdam said.
Deir al-Balah Mixed Primary School, run by UNRWA.
He explained that this is being done in parallel with the provision of distance education services to approximately 300,000 students in Gaza, adding that: “8,000 teachers are contributing to the provision of these services to the children of Gaza who have suffered the ravages of war.”
He stressed that children, wherever they are, “deserve a chance at life, dignity and education.”
Despite the devastation of war, voices and laughter echo once again in the halls of the Deir-al-Balah school.