Education Above All marks global day to protect schools from attack

Education Above All Foundation marked the International Day to Protect Education from Attack on Sept. 9, spotlighting the risks war and displacement pose to students, teachers and schools. The 2026 observance also highlighted a surge in attacks on education and called for stronger preparedness, recovery and accountability.

Why it matters: - Education is often one of the first systems disrupted in war, conflict and displacement. - Attacks on schools and universities put students, teachers and communities at risk and can stall recovery for years. - The 2026 observance underscored that protecting education means building systems that can keep learning going during crisis, not only rebuilding afterward.

What happened: - Education Above All Foundation marked the International Day to Protect Education from Attack on Sept. 9. - The 2026 theme was “Can Education Survive Attack? The Resilience of Human Communities.” - The observance focused on resilience, preparedness, adaptation, recovery and accountability. - The day was established after a resolution presented by the State of Qatar, led by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, and adopted unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly in 2020. - The day highlights students, teachers, schools, universities and learning spaces affected by war, conflict, displacement and insecurity.

The details: - The latest Education Under Attack 2026 report from the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack recorded at least 9,259 attacks on education and incidents of military use of schools and universities in 2024 and 2025. - That total was more than 50% higher than the previous reporting period. - The report said at least 10,600 students, teachers, professors and education personnel were harmed. - The highest incidence of attacks was recorded in Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Palestine and Ukraine. - Military use of schools and universities rose to more than 2,100 cases. - Mohammed Al-Kubaisi, chief executive officer of Education Above All Foundation, said education can survive attack only if systems are built to survive. - Al-Kubaisi also said protection must include preparedness, safe learning pathways, alternative education solutions, psychosocial support and accountability for attacks. - Education Above All Foundation and its partners presented The Crosswalk as a visual activation in Paris and Geneva. - The installation used pedestrian-crossing stripes as a timeline of verified attacks on schools, with each stripe representing a year and the number of recorded attacks. - In Paris, Education Above All Foundation, UNESCO and the Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar to UNESCO presented The Crosswalk at UNESCO Headquarters on Sept. 9. - The Paris installation will remain on view until Sept. 13. - The Paris display includes key facts, campaign messages, a QR code linking to UNESCO’s Preventative Plan of Action to Protect Education from Attack, and an interactive prompt asking, “Can Education Survive Attack?” - In Geneva, the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva, with the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, held a high-level event at the Palais des Nations. - The Geneva event brought together representatives of governments, United Nations agencies and international organizations. - The Crosswalk in Geneva was paired with photographs and digital content showing learners and communities affected by conflict and their efforts to keep education going. - The global #UniteToProtect campaign provided a platform for governments, international organizations, civil society, educators, youth and the public to share solidarity messages. - Education Above All Foundation said education is a fundamental right and also a source of protection, stability, dignity and hope. - The foundation said attacks on education damage more than buildings and can disrupt childhoods, weaken communities and threaten long-term recovery.

Between the lines: - The campaign framing shifts the focus from emergency response to resilience planning. - By placing data-driven installations in diplomatic venues, Education Above All Foundation is tying the issue to policy, international coordination and public accountability. - The emphasis on communities and young people as frontline defenders suggests that local solutions remain central when formal systems break down.

What's next: - The Crosswalk remains at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris through Sept. 13. - The broader campaign is expected to continue pushing governments and international organizations to strengthen prevention, continuity planning and recovery for education in crisis settings. - The #UniteToProtect effort will keep using public messaging to build support for safeguarding education before, during and after attacks.

The bottom line: - Education Above All used the 2026 observance to argue that schools must be designed to endure conflict, not just rebuilt after it.