Global Attacks on Education Rise 40% in 2024-2025, Report Finds

At least 8,500 attacks on education facilities occurred globally between 2024 and 2025, marking a 40% increase from the previous two-year period, according to the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA). The report, Education Under Attack 2026, documented harm to over 10,600 students, teachers, and staff in 83 countries, including 55 nations not in active conflict, GCPEA data shows.

Which Countries Are Most Affected?

The report identified Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Haiti, Palestine, and Ukraine as the most impacted regions. In Ukraine, over 900 school attacks were recorded, while Palestine saw more than 2,000 attacks, leaving nearly all Gaza schools damaged or destroyed by 2025. Haiti, newly included in the analysis, experienced over 400 attacks, the coalition reported.

How Are Girls and Women Disproportionately Affected?

Girls and women faced heightened risks, including targeted attacks on girls’ schools and conflict-related sexual violence in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Colombia, Haiti, and Nigeria. In Afghanistan, authorities shut down learning centers for girls beyond grade six and detained female teachers, the report highlights. These actions reflect systemic efforts to exclude women from education in conflict zones.

What Role Does Military Use of Schools Play?

The military use of schools nearly doubled, with over 1,900 cases recorded. Colombia, DRC, and Ethiopia were particularly affected, as armed groups occupied schools, disrupting education and increasing risks of child recruitment, sexual violence, and retaliatory attacks. This practice undermines infrastructure and exacerbates long-term learning losses, GCPEA noted.

How Are Explosive Weapons Impacting Education?

Explosive weapons, including drone-borne explosives, were used in roughly 300 attacks on education sites. Many occurred during class hours, resulting in deaths, injuries, and prolonged school closures. The report emphasizes that such attacks violate international humanitarian law, GCPEA stated.

What Calls to Action Does the Report Make?

The coalition urges governments, the UN, and donors to:

• Strengthen legal protections for children and education systems
• End the military use of schools
• Sustain global monitoring of attacks
• Safeguard education during elections
• Invest in early warning systems

The Safe Schools Declaration, a global commitment to protect education, remains a key focus, GCPEA said.

Why Does This Matter?

Education is a fundamental right, yet attacks on schools and universities threaten millions of children’s futures. The 2026 report underscores a crisis exacerbated by shrinking humanitarian access and information blackouts, which likely mask even higher attack numbers. Historically, similar trends during the 2010s saw a 50% rise in school attacks, GCPEA data shows, highlighting a recurring pattern of systemic neglect.