Global attacks on education have surged by 40%, with more than 8,556 incidents recorded in 2024 and 2025, according to the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA). These assaults resulted in 10,600 students and staff being killed, injured, abducted, or arrested across 83 countries, signaling a collapse in international norms protecting schools and students in conflict zones.
Where are attacks on education most frequent?
Data from the GCPEA identifies Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Palestine, and Ukraine as the countries with the highest incidence of attacks. In Palestine, researchers recorded at least 2,400 attacks on students and staff, while Ukraine saw approximately 900 incidents involving schools. Myanmar, Nigeria, Yemen, and Cameroon reported the highest volume of individual victims, with more than 1,700 students and staff killed or injured in those nations alone.
The number of global conflicts has reached its highest level since World War II. Uppsala University’s conflict data program tracked 65 active conflicts in 2025, 13 of which qualified as wars with over 1,000 battle-related deaths each.
Why is the military occupation of schools increasing?
The use of educational facilities by military forces or armed groups nearly doubled over the last two years, rising by 91% to a total of 1,912 recorded cases, per the GCPEA study. Professor Tejendra Pherali of University College London describes this trend as “increasingly strategic” rather than episodic. This shift transforms schools from places of learning into targets, effectively dismantling the physical and psychological safety nets that allow communities to maintain a future during wartime.
How does gender and disability influence attack patterns?
Attacks are frequently targeted, with the GCPEA reporting that women and girls faced gender-based violence in at least 11 countries. In a documented instance from November 2025, gunmen raided a girls’ boarding school in Nigeria, killing the vice-principal and abducting 25 students. Students with disabilities also face heightened vulnerability; in September 2025, sources reported that the Israeli military destroyed a school for children with special needs in Lebanon using a controlled detonation.
What are the long-term consequences of failing to protect schools?
Kieran King of War Child UK notes that since 2010, the number of children living in conflict zones has risen by 60%, while grave violations against them, including school attacks, have spiked by 373%. King argues that a “weakening multilateral system” and political impunity for war crimes are driving this trend. Furthermore, aid cuts from major donors like the US and UK have reduced the resources available to provide humanitarian support for affected educational sectors.
Pro Tip: Monitoring Institutional Safety
Experts suggest that the most effective way to address these trends is through robust, independent monitoring. The GCPEA advocates for states to explicitly end the military use of schools and strengthen legal accountability frameworks to deter future violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the primary cause of the surge in attacks on schools?
According to GCPEA, the surge is driven by a breakdown in global norms and an increase in the number of active state-level conflicts, which reached 65 in 2025. - Are schools being used for military purposes?
Yes, the use of schools by armed groups and military forces nearly doubled to 1,912 cases in the last two years. - What happens to the victims of these attacks?
In 2024 and 2025, more than 10,600 students and staff were killed, injured, abducted, or arrested, according to GCPEA data.
How can the international community better enforce humanitarian law to protect classrooms? Share your thoughts below or subscribe to our newsletter for ongoing updates on global conflict trends and humanitarian policy.
