Attacks on schools, students, teachers and education personnel increased sharply worldwide in 2024–2025, according to a new report by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack.
The report focuses on attacks on education, military use of schools, harm to students and teachers, explosive weapons in populated areas, risks faced by girls and women, child protection, monitoring of violations and stronger legal safeguards for education systems.
According to Education Under Attack 2026, at least 8,500 attacks on education were recorded globally during 2024–2025, marking an increase of more than 40 percent compared with the previous two-year period. The attacks affected more than 10,600 students, teachers and education personnel across 83 countries.
GCPEA said the real scale of the crisis is likely higher, as conflict escalation, limited humanitarian access and information blackouts mean many incidents are never reported.
The highest numbers of attacks were documented in Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Palestine and Ukraine. In Ukraine, more than 900 attacks on schools were recorded, while Palestine saw more than 2,000 attacks targeting education. By the end of 2025, nearly all schools in Gaza had been damaged or destroyed.
Haiti, newly profiled in the report, experienced more than 400 attacks on education. The highest numbers of people killed or injured were reported in Myanmar, Nigeria, Yemen and Cameroon.
The report also highlights the specific risks faced by girls and women. Targeted attacks on girls’ schools and conflict-related sexual violence were reported in countries including Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Colombia, Haiti and Nigeria. In Afghanistan, restrictions on girls’ education continued, including the closure of learning centres for girls above grade six and the detention of female teachers.
GCPEA also found that the military use of schools nearly doubled, with more than 1,900 cases recorded. Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia were among the countries most affected. The occupation of schools by armed forces or armed groups disrupts learning, damages infrastructure and increases risks such as child recruitment, sexual violence and retaliatory attacks.
The report also points to the growing use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including drone-borne explosives. Around 300 attacks on education involved such weapons, with many occurring during school hours and resulting in deaths, injuries and long-term school closures.
GCPEA called for urgent action to protect education in conflict and crisis settings. Its recommendations include strengthening legal protections, ending the military use of schools, protecting global monitoring systems, safeguarding education during elections and investing in early warning and anticipatory action systems.
The report is the eighth edition of the Education under Attack series and analyses global trends, attacks and military use of schools and universities in 28 countries.
