LEARNING UNDER FIRE: EDUCATION AS A BATTLEGROUND FOR DEMOCRACY

Viola Raheb in conversation with Rana Albattrawi, Ismail Matar and Marc Lassouaoui

LEARNING UNDER FIRE: EDUCATION AS A BATTLEGROUND FOR DEMOCRACY
The right to education in times of war on the example of Art education and the work of UNRWA in Gaza

Education is a cornerstone of democratic societies, fostering critical thinking, civic knowledge and participation, thus preparing young generations to become informed and responsible citizens. In contexts of war and systematic violence, this foundation is deeply shaken. Schools and universities are targeted or destroyed, access to learning is restricted, and opportunities for democratic discourse are stifled. These are conditions that often strengthen authoritarian powers.

Gaza exemplifies this dynamic: Decades of blockade and repeated military assaults have made education one of its most endangered social resources, depriving generations of Palestinians of their right to education. This right to education applies to over 600,000 children in Gaza, nearly half of whom were served through UNRWA. Despite ongoing restrictions, widespread destruction, and significant human loss, UNRWA remains the largest provider of emergency education and continues to provide essential educational services, through which it offers hope, healing, and a sense of normalcy to children amid devastation and trauma. As such, UNRWA will remain crucial for a phased return to formal education in Gaza. On the Palestinian side, Gazan voices and stories such as those of Rana and Ismail show that education, culture and creative expressions, persist even amid devastation, offering alternative narratives of resistance, resilience and hope.

Rana Albattrawi, Paris-based artists and academic from Gaza

Ismail Matar, Brussels-based artist from Gaza

Marc Lassouaoui , Outreach Europe UNRWA

Viola Raheb, Scholar of Religious Studies, Lecturer, Writer, and Senior Fellow at BKF

In cooperation with the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna