The recent findings from the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) reveal a staggering rise in violent incidents targeting educational institutions worldwide. Over the course of 2024 and 2025, attacks on schools, students, and staff have surged by 40%, leading to over 10,600 casualties, including deaths, injuries, abductions, and arrests across 83 nations. This escalation underscores a worrying trend that threatens the sanctity of education in conflict zones and beyond.
A Disturbing Increase in Incidents
The GCPEA’s latest report highlights that approximately 8,556 incidents were documented, with particularly high rates of violence noted in regions such as Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Palestine, and Ukraine. In Ukraine alone, nearly 900 attacks were recorded, while Palestine experienced a shocking 2,400 assaults on students and educational staff.
The study indicates that military forces and armed factions have increasingly occupied schools and universities, with reported cases nearly doubling—91% more than in prior years, amounting to 1,912 incidents. This alarming trend is not just a series of isolated events; it reflects a systematic strategy that puts children at risk.
Voices from the Ground
Lisa Chung Bender, the director of the GCPEA, expressed grave concerns about the implications of these findings, stating that they serve as a stark warning regarding the erosion of protections for children and educational institutions. “The global norms that once safeguarded children are collapsing,” she remarked. “If we do not act decisively, we risk losing these hard-won protections forever.”
The report paints a bleak picture, particularly in Myanmar, Nigeria, Yemen, and Cameroon, where over 1,700 students and educational personnel have been killed or injured. In Nigeria alone, more than 700 individuals were reportedly abducted, while Myanmar has seen at least 80 deaths and around 240 injuries among students and staff.
Gender-Based Violence in Educational Settings
The report further reveals that in at least 11 countries, women and girls have been explicitly targeted due to their gender. A tragic incident in Nigeria on 17 November 2025 saw armed assailants attack a girls’ boarding school, resulting in the death of the vice-principal and the abduction of 25 female students. Additionally, students with disabilities, already facing significant barriers to education, have not been spared from the violence. A recent controlled detonation by the Israeli military in Lebanon destroyed a school for children with special needs, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of these attacks.
The Legal and Humanitarian Implications
Kieran King from War Child UK emphasised that these attacks constitute severe violations of international law, including the Geneva Conventions. Since 2010, the number of children living in conflict zones has surged by 60%, coinciding with a staggering 373% increase in documented violations against children, including direct attacks on educational facilities. King pointed out that impunity for such war crimes has grown, exacerbated by cuts to humanitarian aid from major powers like the US and the UK.
Chung Bender advocates for urgent action to mitigate this crisis, calling on states to cease military activities in educational spaces, enhance legal protections, and invest in systems for monitoring and reporting incidents. “These attacks are preventable,” she asserted, urging for a concerted global effort to safeguard education.
The Broader Context of Conflict
These findings emerge against a backdrop of escalating global conflict. Uppsala University’s conflict data programme recorded 65 active conflicts in 2025, including 13 classified as wars, resulting in over 244,000 deaths—the second highest figure since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The rise in violent conflicts not only threatens lives but also undermines the very foundations of education, which is crucial for peacebuilding and societal stability.
Why it Matters
The implications of these findings are profound. Education is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone for achieving peace and development. When schools become battlegrounds, the future of entire generations hangs in the balance. The alarming increase in attacks on educational institutions not only disrupts learning but instills fear, erodes trust in societal structures, and ultimately, jeopardises the prospects for peace and stability in conflict-affected regions. A collective response is essential to uphold the sanctity of education and protect the rights of children worldwide.