The global education system is facing an unprecedented crisis, with attacks on schools and universities surging by 40% in 2026 and 2026. According to new research, more than 8,556 incidents were recorded, resulting in over 10,600 students and staff being killed, injured, abducted, arrested, or otherwise harmed. This escalating violence is a stark reminder of the fragile state of education in conflict zones and beyond.
The Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) reported that attacks were documented in 83 countries, with the highest incidences in Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Palestine, and Ukraine. These numbers highlight a disturbing trend that is eroding the safety and accessibility of education for millions of children worldwide.
The Escalating Crisis in Conflict Zones
Ukraine experienced approximately 900 attacks on schools, while Palestine saw at least 2,400 attacks on students and staff. The report underscores the severe impact of conflict on educational institutions, with military forces or armed groups occupying schools or universities in nearly double the cases recorded in the previous two years. This rise in occupation cases, totaling 1,912, is a grave violation of international norms and a direct threat to the safety of students and educators.
The highest numbers of victims were reported in Myanmar, Nigeria, Yemen, and Cameroonwhere over 1,700 students and staff were killed or injured. In Nigeriamore than 700 students and staff were reportedly kidnapped, while in Myanmarat least 80 students and staff were killed, and about 240 were injured. These statistics paint a grim picture of the systematic targeting of educational institutions in conflict zones.
Targeting Vulnerable Populations
The report found that in at least 11 countries, women and girls were specifically targeted because of their gender. For instance, on 17 gunmen attacked a girls’ boarding school in Nigeriakilling the vice-principal and abducting 25 female pupils. This targeted violence against women and girls underscores the gendered dimensions of the crisis in education.
Students with disabilities, who already face significant obstacles to accessing education, were also affected. On 11 in Lebanonsources reported that the Israeli military carried out a controlled detonation to destroy a school for children with special needs. This incident highlights the disproportionate impact of violence on vulnerable populations, further exacerbating educational inequalities.
The Use of High Explosives and International Law Violations
The use of high explosives, including drone-borne munitions, featured frequently in the attacks on schools, resulting in extensive casualties and damage to infrastructure. These attacks have forced many institutions to close, depriving countless students of their right to education. The frequent use of such destructive methods underscores the urgent need for international intervention and accountability.
Kieran Kingfrom the charity War Child UKemphasized that attacks on education are grave violations of international law, such as the Geneva conventions. He noted that since 2010, there has been a 60% increase in children living in conflict, with grave violations against children, including attacks on education, increasing by 373%. This alarming trend highlights the weakening of multilateral systems and the impunity for war crimes, which has led to a surge in disregard for international humanitarian law.
The aid cuts from the USUKand other countries have significantly reduced funding for humanitarian action, further worsening the situation. This lack of support has emboldened states acting without fear of sanction, leading to a documented surge in attacks on educational institutions.
Lisa Chung Benderdirector of the GCPEA, insisted that these attacks are preventable. She called for states to end the military use of schools, strengthen legal protection and accountability for attacks on education, and invest in monitoring, reporting, and early warning systems. These measures are crucial to safeguarding the right to education and ensuring the safety of students and educators worldwide.
The figures come as the number of conflicts between states has reached the highest level since the Second World War. Uppsala University’s conflict data program registered 65 conflicts during 2026, 13 of which were classified as wars, causing at least 1,000 battle-related deaths in a calendar year. This is the highest number since 1992, indicating a troubling escalation in global conflict.
The number of fatalities also increased sharply during the year, among both combatants and civilians. In all, more than 244,000 people were killed in organized violence in 2026, making it the second most bloody year since the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. This escalating violence underscores the urgent need for international intervention and accountability to protect educational institutions and the right to education.
