In a sobering reflection of the current global landscape, a recent report reveals that assaults on educational institutions have escalated by 40%, impacting over 10,600 students and educational staff across 83 nations. The findings, published by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), highlight a disturbing trend where schools, once perceived as sanctuaries for learning, have increasingly become targets of violence. The data covers incidents recorded in 2024 and 2025, underscoring a crisis that demands urgent attention.
Alarming Statistics from Multiple Nations
The study reveals an alarming count of more than 8,556 incidents involving attacks on education, resulting in fatalities, injuries, abductions, and arrests of students and educators alike. Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Palestine, and Ukraine emerge as the most affected countries. Notably, Ukraine faced around 900 assaults on educational facilities, while Palestine recorded at least 2,400 attacks against students and educational staff, painting a grim picture of the state of education in conflict zones.
Lisa Chung Bender, GCPEA’s director, characterised the findings as a clarion call for action. “These statistics serve as a warning that the protective norms which once shielded children are eroding,” she stated. “If we do not take decisive steps now, we may find ourselves in a reality where the youngest among us are no longer safe.”
The Impact on Vulnerable Populations
The report further reveals a troubling rise in the military occupation of educational institutions, which has nearly doubled, with 1,912 cases documented. The most severe consequences have been observed in Myanmar, Nigeria, Yemen, and Cameroon, where upwards of 1,700 individuals associated with educational institutions have been killed or harmed. For instance, in Nigeria, more than 700 students and staff have been kidnapped, and in Myanmar, at least 80 individuals in the education sector lost their lives due to military actions.
The findings extend to a grim reality faced by women and girls, who are often specifically targeted in these violent encounters. On 17 November 2025, for example, gunmen attacked a girls’ boarding school in Nigeria, resulting in the death of the vice-principal and the abduction of 25 female students. This pattern of targeting underscores the intersection of gender-based violence and educational disruption in conflict situations.
The Role of International Law and Humanitarian Aid
Kieran King from War Child UK stressed that these attacks constitute a grave breach of international law, including the Geneva Conventions. “Since 2010, we’ve seen a 60% increase in children living in conflict zones, with attacks on education rising by 373% in the same timeframe,” he noted. King also highlighted the consequences of a faltering multilateral system and a lack of accountability for war crimes, which have allowed such violence to proliferate without fear of repercussion.
The report suggests that cuts to humanitarian aid from countries such as the US and the UK have further exacerbated the situation, reducing critical funding for educational support in crisis-hit regions. Chung Bender emphasised the necessity for states to cease military operations within schools, enhance legal protections, and invest in systems for monitoring and reporting incidents.
A Worsening Global Conflict Landscape
The GCPEA’s findings come at a time when global conflicts are at an unprecedented high, with Uppsala University’s data programme recording 65 active conflicts in 2025, of which 13 were classified as wars, each resulting in at least 1,000 battle-related deaths. The year witnessed over 244,000 casualties in organised violence, marking it as one of the most lethal periods since the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
Why it Matters
The surge in attacks on educational institutions represents not only a humanitarian crisis but also a fundamentally destabilising force in societies worldwide. Education is a cornerstone of development and peace, and its disruption jeopardises future generations. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for global leaders to take proactive measures to protect educational integrity, ensure the safety of students and teachers, and uphold international humanitarian law. Without immediate action, we risk perpetuating a cycle of violence that compromises the very foundations of our societies.
