In a chilling revelation, a recent report has uncovered a staggering 40% increase in violent assaults on educational institutions across the globe, with over 10,600 children and educators either killed, injured, abducted, or arrested in just two years. This alarming trend, documented in 83 countries, is a stark reflection of the deteriorating safety for students and teachers alike. The findings from the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) highlight a world where the sanctity of education is increasingly under siege.
A Disturbing Rise in Violence
The GCPEA’s report lays bare the harrowing statistics: in 2024 and 2025 alone, more than 8,556 incidents of violence against educational settings were recorded. Countries like Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Palestine, and Ukraine have emerged as hotspots for these attacks. Ukraine alone suffered approximately 900 assaults on schools, while Palestine endured a staggering 2,400 incidents involving students and staff.
The report also reveals a worrying trend of military forces and armed groups occupying educational establishments, with such cases soaring by 91% over the past two years. A total of 1,912 incidents were documented, painting a grim picture of a world where learning environments are increasingly transformed into battlegrounds.
The Human Cost of Conflict
Lisa Chung Bender, the director of the GCPEA, underscored the urgent need for action. “These findings are a warning sign of the crumbling global norms that once safeguarded children,” she stated emphatically. The report highlights the highest numbers of casualties in countries like Myanmar, Nigeria, Yemen, and Cameroon, where over 1,700 students and staff have been killed or injured.
Nigeria, in particular, presents a horrifying narrative: more than 700 students and staff have reportedly been kidnapped, while in Myanmar, at least 80 have lost their lives to violence. The emotional toll of these attacks is profound; children no longer view schools as safe havens, and the implications for their futures are devastating.
Gender-Based Violence in Education
The report also draws attention to the troubling trend of gender-based violence in educational settings. In at least 11 countries, female students have been specifically targeted. A harrowing example occurred on 17 November 2025, when gunmen stormed a girls’ boarding school in Nigeria, killing the vice-principal and abducting 25 young girls. Such incidents underscore the intersection of conflict and gender-based violence, further compounding the challenges faced by women and girls seeking education.
Disability is another critical factor, with students with disabilities encountering additional barriers. In Lebanon, the Israeli military’s destructive actions against a school for children with special needs exemplified the brutal impact of conflict on vulnerable populations.
The Legal and Humanitarian Crisis
Kieran King from War Child UK asserted that these assaults represent grave violations of international law, including the Geneva Conventions. The data reflects an alarming 60% rise in children living amid conflict since 2010, with a staggering 373% increase in grave violations against children, including attacks on educational institutions.
King pointed to a broader pattern of political impunity, noting that states are increasingly acting without fear of repercussions. He mentioned the detrimental effects of aid cuts from major donors, which have further undermined humanitarian actions aimed at protecting vulnerable populations.
Preventable Tragedies
Despite the overwhelming evidence of escalating violence, Chung Bender remains resolute: “These attacks are preventable. We need states to end the military use of schools, bolster legal protections, and invest in monitoring and early warning systems.” Her call to action is clear; the time for intervention is now.
The report arrives at a moment when global conflicts are at their highest since the Second World War. Uppsala University’s conflict data programme recorded 65 conflicts in 2025, with 13 classified as wars, marking the deadliest period since 1992. The toll in human lives is staggering, with over 244,000 individuals killed in organised violence, making 2025 one of the bloodiest years since the Rwandan genocide.
Why it Matters
The staggering increase in violence against educational institutions signals a dark shift in global priorities, where the right to education is increasingly jeopardised. This trend not only threatens the immediate safety and wellbeing of children but also jeopardises their futures, eroding trust in education as a pathway to opportunity. As the world grapples with escalating conflicts, the implications for a generation of young minds are dire, underscoring the urgent need for international action to safeguard the sanctity of education.