Ex-Palestinian teacher now living in UK remains tied to roots

Former Palestinian teacher, Sana el-Azab, who was one of 34 students in Gaza who had been evacuated to the UK, was given a scholarship at Durham University to pursue her studies, but maintains that half her mind remains in the Palestinian territory, the BBC reported on October 9th.

In June, the 29-year-old former teacher was given the scholarship to study educational leadership and change in the university, located in the Northeastern English city of Durham. Despite weeks of uncertainty surrounding whether or not el-Azab would be able to leave Gaza, the work of British politicians and academics allowed her and dozens of other Gazan students to be able to evacuate to study in the UK.

El-Azab expressed her complex feelings on situation: “There’s no chance to continue your higher education in Gaza. All the universities are destroyed. There’s no education system at all anymore.”

Many academic institutions, including Al-Azhar University, where Sana acquired her BA in English literature are reported to have been destroyed as a result of Israeli attacks.

This feeds into a wider education crisis in Gaza, with a UN independent global commission of inquiry warning that Israel had “obliterated Gaza’s education system.” Following Israel’s attacks on the city, schools became shelters for those displaced and formal face-to-face teaching was deferred. Nearly 660,000 Gazan children are not in education, with roughly 87,000 university students also effected.

“My six-year-old niece asked me what it’s like to be in school,” Sana said. “Imagine what they’ve all missed out on. This is now the third year.”

This shortage of teaching opportunities in Gaza led to Sana setting up a makeshift school at her home in Deir al-Balah where she would teach up to 50 students English and maths. Weekly art classes also took place which she believed would be a healthy outlet for the children to express their trauma from the humanitarian crisis and conflict.

Sana describes herself as conflicted: “It’s hard to go from survival mode to learning. Half of my mind is in class and the other half is still in Gaza.”

The severity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza in undeniable at this point. With an estimated one in ten dead or wounded from Israel’s assault, as well as a looming generational poverty crisis in the enclave, reported by the World Bank. Conditions have only rapidly increased in extremity, with famine and malnutrition becoming rife for Palestinians.

Furthermore, aid has been in shortage for Palestinians with Israeli forces killing Palestinians waiting for aid and blocking the Global Sumud Flotilla that intended to deliver aid to Gaza.

Being able to continue her studies in Durham is undoubtedly a huge change in environment for el-Azab, and one she will struggle to adjust to. However, Sana has described the opportunity as a chance for positive change, expressing her desire to go back to Gaza and use what she learns in Durham to help those struggling with the education crisis in Gaza.

BBC, Maghrebi.org