Violence targeting schools, students, and educational staff has escalated dramatically worldwide, with a new study revealing a 40% increase in attacks over the past two years. This surge, documented in 83 countries, has resulted in more than 10,600 individuals being killed, injured, abducted, or otherwise harmed during 2024 and 2025. The findings, released by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), paint a grim picture of education under siege in some of the world’s most conflict-ridden regions.
Why this matters
The sharp rise in assaults on educational environments is not just a humanitarian crisis but a profound threat to global stability and future development. Schools are traditionally viewed as safe havens—places where children can learn, grow, and build the foundations for peaceful societies. When these spaces become battlegrounds, the consequences ripple far beyond immediate physical harm. Disruptions to education undermine social cohesion, fuel cycles of violence, and diminish prospects for economic recovery in fragile states. The data signals a disturbing erosion of international norms designed to protect children and educational institutions, threatening to normalize violence against some of the most vulnerable populations.
Geographic hotspots and the nature of attacks
The report highlights that countries such as Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Palestine, and Ukraine have experienced the highest numbers of attacks. Ukraine alone faced approximately 900 separate incidents, while Palestine reported at least 2,400 attacks on students and staff. In many conflict zones, the military occupation of schools has almost doubled, with 1,912 cases recorded, turning educational facilities into strategic military assets rather than sanctuaries for learning.
In Nigeria, the kidnapping of over 700 students and staff underscores the use of abduction as a tactic to instill fear and exert control. Myanmar saw at least 80 deaths and 240 injuries among school populations, reflecting the lethal consequences of ongoing conflict. The use of advanced weaponry, including drone strikes and explosives, has caused widespread destruction of infrastructure, forcing many schools to close indefinitely.
Targeting vulnerable groups
The violence disproportionately affects marginalized groups, including women, girls, and students with disabilities. The report details chilling incidents such as the November 2025 attack on a girls’ boarding school in Nigeria, where armed assailants killed the vice-principal and abducted 25 female students. In Lebanon, a school for children with special needs was destroyed by a controlled detonation carried out by military forces, highlighting the vulnerability of disabled students who already face significant barriers to education.
These targeted attacks not only violate international humanitarian law but also exacerbate existing inequalities. Girls and children with disabilities are pushed further to the margins, with their access to education and safety severely compromised.
The broader conflict context and systemic issues
The rise in attacks on education coincides with an unprecedented surge in global conflicts. In 2025, 65 conflicts were recorded worldwide, the highest since the early 1990s, with 13 classified as wars causing over 1,000 deaths each. The overall death toll from organized violence exceeded 244,000, marking 2025 as one of the deadliest years in recent history.
Experts argue that these attacks are not random but part of a strategic pattern aimed at destabilizing communities and eroding trust in institutions. The normalization of military use of schools and impunity for perpetrators reflect a weakening of the international legal framework designed to protect civilians in conflict zones. Aid reductions by major donor countries further hamper efforts to prevent violence and support affected populations, compounding the crisis.
Pathways to protection and accountability
Despite the bleak statistics, the GCPEA emphasizes that these attacks are preventable. Strengthening legal protections for education, enforcing accountability for violations, and investing in early warning systems are critical steps to reverse the trend. International cooperation and political will are essential to uphold the norms that safeguard schools and students.
Additionally, humanitarian organizations call for renewed commitment to funding education in emergencies and conflict-affected areas. Protecting education is not only a moral imperative but a strategic investment in peacebuilding and long-term stability. Without urgent action, the world risks losing a generation of learners to violence and disruption.
The escalating assault on education globally is a stark reminder that the battlefield is no longer confined to frontlines—it has permeated the very institutions meant to nurture future generations. Addressing this crisis requires a concerted global response that prioritizes education as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of peace.
