A portrait of Palestinian students returning to school amidst difficult times

Nablus/Hebron, Palestine (ANTARA) - The new academic year began on Sunday (6/9) across the West Bank, where Palestinian schools are attempting to continue teaching and learning activities amidst a difficult situation.

At least 864,000 students entered more than 2,500 schools throughout the West Bank this year, supported by approximately 54,000 teachers, according to local education authorities.

Hope for Palestine continues to be sown, as Palestinian Minister of Education Amjad Barham stated that this new academic year marks the opening of 15 new schools.

He emphasised that his department is continuously developing plans to ensure the continuity of the educational process, despite facing various challenges such as barriers, checkpoints, access closures, and even the destruction of schools in various villages and towns affected by Israeli settler activities.

Last April, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released a report stating that by December 2025, the number of movement restrictions imposed on Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, reached 925 cases.

This figure is 43 per cent higher than the average of 647 movement restriction cases per year recorded over the previous 20 years.

Below is a portrait of Palestinian students beginning the new academic year amidst difficult circumstances.