“If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.” These are the words of Mahatma Gandhi, emphasizing the importance of educating the next generation to bring about peace.

News organizations covering the Israel and Hamas war would serve the public better by focusing on what must come next: post-war reformation of Gazan education.

In the aftermath of the war, Gazan education must be revitalized — rebuilding a system that has experienced decades of abuse with oversight from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The agency is weak, inefficient and compromised by extremist ideologies. Several of its employees were involved in the October 7 attacks on Israel and many more have connections to Hamas. They cannot be trusted to facilitate education in the region, especially when the curriculum is designed to perpetuate more conflict.

A new approach is needed — one that is not only free from these influences but also designed to foster peace, coexistence and a brighter future for Gaza’s youth. For too long, UNRWA has been responsible for the education of young Palestinians in Gaza (and elsewhere in the Middle East) and failed to deliver an education that promotes peace and understanding. Instead, it allows radical ideologies to fester within its schools.

Numerous reports have highlighted instances where UNRWA facilities have been used for purposes far removed from education, including the storage of weapons and the propagation of extremist narratives. Additionally, student retention rates to grade nine can be as low as 68%, and UNRWA students perform poorly on standardized tests in some fields. Less than half of students who remain in school pass the final exam.

Meanwhile, the Alternate Gazan Education System (AGES) Fund offers a path forward, presenting a sustainable, transformative solution for the region’s educational crisis. The AGES Fund steps in where UNRWA has faltered, offering a necessary reboot free from terror.

Following the war, the environment in Gaza will be too volatile for traditional schooling because of the presence of terrorist groups recently inhabiting the land. Remote learning will be a necessary first step to begin rebuilding and ensuring that education continues uninterrupted. The AGES Fund can provide this accessible education to students through remote platforms, keeping them out of the dangerous environment.

The children of Gaza are currently absorbing knowledge from their harsh environment, but these are not the lessons they should be learning. The experiences of conflict and loss are shaping a generation more inclined toward perpetuating the cycle of violence. The AGES Fund aims to rectify this by introducing a new curriculum focused on universal values such as human rights, coexistence and the rejection of violence. Delivered initially through remote learning, this curriculum will address two critical issues: ensuring the security of students and teachers and implementing educational content that genuinely promotes peace.

One of the most urgent tasks is to remove derogatory content related to Zionism and Israel from Gaza’s educational materials. Under UNRWA, such content has been widespread, fostering hatred and deepening divisions. The AGES Fund advocates a curriculum that not only excludes these harmful narratives but also introduces lessons that promote understanding and mutual respect. Monitoring the acceptance of these new teachings, particularly concerning Zionism, is essential to ensuring that the education system promotes peace rather than conflict.

The transformation envisioned by the AGES Fund extends beyond students to the educators themselves. Teachers in Gaza must be retrained to deliver the new curriculum effectively. This includes comprehensive education on sensitive topics such as the Holocaust and Zionism — subjects that have been historically misrepresented or entirely omitted in Gaza’s schools. The AGES Fund will ensure that educators are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to foster a culture of peace and coexistence. In many cases, the education of teachers will need to be even more intensive than that of their students, as they will play a crucial role in shaping the next generation’s outlook.

The AGES Fund takes a fresh, comprehensive approach to rebuilding Gaza’s education system, focusing on transparency and results where UNRWA has failed. Starting with remote learning to address immediate security concerns, AGES is laying the groundwork for a formal, peace-oriented education system that can grow as the situation stabilizes. By cutting out harmful content, retraining teachers and promoting coexistence, AGES isn’t just fixing the education system — it’s setting up Gaza’s children for a peaceful and stable future for all.

EJ Kimball is a Maryland resident and the director of policy and strategic operations at the U.S. Israel Education Association.