A crisis in Gaza's education needs an urgent response
The education system in Gaza has been devastated by ongoing attacks, affecting the dreams and futures of over 88,000 students. Despite these challenges, the ISNAD program aims to provide 30,000 scholarships to support 15,000 students as well as university staff in Gaza, enabling them to resume their studies through distance learning.
The program focuses on major universities such as Al-Azhar University, the Islamic University, and Al-Aqsa University, which collectively serve 72% of Gaza's university students. With a target of raising $16,000,000, ISNAD will cover tuition fees for two semesters, ensuring educational continuity and giving these students the opportunity to build a better future for themselves and for Gaza, thereby enhancing the resilience of Palestinian universities to survive and thrive.
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Since the attacks began, educational facilities in Gaza have faced systematic destruction:
20
Universities and Institutions Damaged Including the complete destruction of 35 buildings and 57 partially damaged
129
University Staff and Professors Killed
5,100
Academics and Employees Unable to Receive Their Salaries
Since the attacks began, educational facilities in Gaza
have faced systematic destruction:
20
Universities and institutions damaged including the complete destruction of 51 buildings and 57 partially
129
University staff and professors killed
5,100
Academics and employees unable to receive their salaries
30,000 ScholarshipsFor two semesters to support both students and universities |
15,000 StudentsSupported through distance learning initiatives |
University ResilienceEnhancing the ability of Palestinian universities to sustain themselves |
ISNAD- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
ISNAD supports students enrolled in Gaza’s three public universities- Al Azhar, Al Aqsa, and the Islamic University- focusing on those in their final years of study. Priority is given to students in critical specialization that serve the emergency response and future reconstruction, such as health, engineering, education, and agriculture. It also supports students in digitally adaptable fields such as coding and digital marketing, helping them earn remotely and strengthen Gaza’s resilience.
ISNAD is tailored for crisis conditions. It not only supports students but also sustains Gaza’s public universities, operating through nationally endorsed mechanisms and targeting large-scale, urgent needs. It consolidates scattered emergency initiatives, scaling them into a structured, coordinated, and sustainable platform- aiming to become Palestine’s central scholarship mechanism.
All funds are transferred directly to universities through formal financial mechanisms approved by the Palestinian Monetary Authority, ensuring full transparency and accountability.
Yes. ISNAD operates under the umbrella of the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education and in partnership with Gaza’s major public universities.
Yes. Both individuals and institutions can contribute. Donations can be made via Taawon’s website here, or by contacting our fundraising team for partnership opportunities at ([email protected] ).
Through its steering committee and university representatives, Taawon monitors enrollment and graduation data, collects student surveys and testimonials, and receives university feedback and reports.
ISNAD complements and coordinates partners' efforts under one structured, applicable national mechanism. ISNAD reduces duplication, ensures equal access, and aligns with Gaza’s reconstruction and educational recovery priorities.
Scattered efforts can weaken impact; ISNAD scales them strategically.
ISNAD recognizes connectivity as a major barrier. ISNAD works closely with universities and local partners to provide flexible learning options and support, including printed materials, offline access tools, and targeted digital access solutions whenever possible, building on the lessons of COVID and the realities of the aggression.
We are also seeking partnerships to establish internet access hubs and digital learning solutions across Gaza.
ISNAD treats education as a lifeline, operating as an educational survival strategy- ensuring students remain connected to learning, purpose, and hope. Even amid famine, students attend remote classes and complete exams. ISNAD gives them a path forward when everything else is collapsing.
ISNAD seeks to prevent the collapse of Gaza’s higher education, and contributes to the steadfastness and resilience of national institutions by keeping students enrolled, supporting faculty, and preserving institutional continuity during aggression- laying the foundation for long-term recovery and development through (providing scholarship to majors that have direct impact to the current context and contributes to the reconstruction phase.
These universities make up 78% of Gaza’s student population, and are public institutions, public universities, relying on governmental finances to continue operating, which cannot happen in the current political landscape.
About Taawon
Taawon is an independent collective of Palestinian entrepreneurs, business practitioners, scholars and thinkers, bound together across generations by our dedication for Palestine to persevere and thrive.
Since our establishment in 1983, Taawon has consistently worked to defend and preserve Palestinian culture and heritage, empowering communities and investing in human capital. Our interventions have included extensive support for the education sector, with $276,000,000 allocated to educational programs from 1983 to 2023. We work closely with local civil society organizations and a global support network to address the diverse needs of Palestinians.
We are available for your inquiries.
Email us at [email protected]