RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia has stepped up humanitarian support in Gaza by restoring access to education, where formal schooling has largely collapsed due to prolonged conflict, with the National Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) launching four school tents for refugee children in Az-Zawayda to meet urgent learning needs.

BAZNAS Chairman Sodik Mudjahid said the school tents reflect Indonesia’s continued commitment to supporting Palestine’s future, particularly by helping revive children’s motivation to learn despite difficult circumstances.

“We understand that education must not stop even in times of war. These tents are a symbol of hope so that Gaza’s children can continue to access knowledge,” Sodik said in a written statement issued in Jakarta on Monday, May 4, 2026, as quoted on BAZNAS official website.

Located near the Ard Az-Zaitoun camp, the temporary schools are designed to accommodate around 550 to 600 students, both boys and girls. The facilities will implement a formal education system using the Palestinian national curriculum to maintain learning standards.

In addition to academic subjects, the schools also offer supplementary programs such as Islamic education and Qur’an memorization classes, which have already attracted around 100 participants. Sodik emphasized that BAZNAS will continue overseeing operations to ensure long-term benefits for refugees in Az-Zawayda and surrounding areas.

Operational supervision is being carried out by a local partner, Darul Quran Alkarim Wassunah, to ensure smooth aid distribution and learning activities. The collaborative effort is also expected to support the psychological recovery of Gaza’s children by providing a safe and structured school environment amid limited resources.

To optimize learning effectiveness, classes are divided into four sessions based on gender and grade levels, ranging from elementary to junior high school. This system maximizes the capacity of the four available tents at the refugee site.

The emergency schools have been met with overwhelming enthusiasm from children who have long missed the experience of learning. The atmosphere has been both emotional and spirited, as students collectively voiced chants affirming their identity and dignity, declaring, “Glory and eternity to our righteous martyrs, and Al-Quds is ours.”

The chants underscore how the schools serve not only as places of learning, but also as spaces where Gaza’s younger generation preserves memory and hope for the future of their homeland. ***