The alarming rise in violence against educational settings has been unveiled in a recent report, revealing a staggering 40% increase in attacks on schools and staff globally. The Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) has documented over 8,500 incidents in 2024 and 2025, resulting in more than 10,600 individuals—students and educators alike—either killed, injured, abducted, or arrested. These figures represent a grave threat to the sanctity of education, particularly in conflict-affected regions such as Myanmar, Nigeria, and Ukraine.
A Disturbing Trend
The findings, published by the GCPEA, indicate a disturbing trend in the targeting of educational institutions, with 83 countries reporting incidents of violence. Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Palestine, and Ukraine emerged as the most affected nations. Notably, Ukraine has faced approximately 900 attacks on schools, while Palestine recorded over 2,400 assaults on students and staff.
The report highlights a significant escalation in the military occupation of educational facilities, with documented cases nearly doubling to 1,912. Lisa Chung Bender, director of the GCPEA, emphasised the urgency of the situation. “These findings are a clarion call about the deteriorating norms that once safeguarded children,” she stated. “If we do not address this crisis promptly, we risk a future where even the youngest are fair game.”
The Human Cost
The human toll of these attacks is harrowing, with Myanmar, Nigeria, Yemen, and Cameroon registering the highest casualties. In Myanmar alone, over 80 students and faculty have lost their lives, while Nigeria has seen more than 700 students abducted. The heartbreaking reality is that behind each statistic lies a child who no longer views school as a sanctuary. Professor Tejendra Pherali from University College London lamented, “It is heartbreaking to witness these rising numbers; it indicates a systematic rather than episodic trend, with increasingly strategic attacks on educational institutions.”
The targeting of women and girls has also been particularly alarming. The report notes instances where female students were specifically targeted due to their gender, such as a tragic incident in Nigeria where gunmen stormed a girls’ boarding school, killing the vice-principal and kidnapping 25 students in November 2025.
Additionally, students with disabilities are not spared from this violence. In Lebanon, a school for children with special needs was destroyed by Israeli military forces, illustrating the indiscriminate nature of these assaults on education.
The Broader Context
The rise in attacks on education coincides with a global increase in armed conflicts. According to Uppsala University’s conflict data programme, 2025 saw 65 active conflicts—13 classified as wars—resulting in the highest death toll since 1992. More than 244,000 people were killed in organised violence that year, marking it as one of the most violent since the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
Kieran King from War Child UK noted that these assaults on education constitute serious violations of international law. He remarked on the alarming 373% increase in such violations over the past decade, attributing this deterioration to a breakdown in the multilateral system and a growing impunity for war crimes. “States are acting without fear of consequences, further exacerbating the plight of children in conflict zones,” he observed.
A Call to Action
Despite the grim outlook, advocates like Chung Bender argue that these attacks are preventable. “We must urge states to cease military usage of schools, enhance legal protections for educational institutions, and invest in robust monitoring and early warning systems,” she urged.
The necessity for a concerted global response cannot be overstated. As conflicts rage and violence against education escalates, the stakes are higher than ever.
Why it Matters
The implications of these findings extend beyond mere statistics; they reflect a fundamental crisis in protecting children’s rights to education and safety. In a world where the sanctity of schools is increasingly under threat, the international community must mobilise to safeguard not only the future of education but the futures of millions of children across the globe. The fight for educational integrity and the protection of young lives is not just a moral imperative—it is essential for the stability of societies worldwide.