The National Education Union (NEU) is deeply concerned by the latest findings from the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), which show a significant rise in attacks on education and the military use of schools during 2024–25.
The NEU stands in solidarity with educators and students around the world. Schools must remain safe places of safety and learning. No child or educator should go to school at risk of being killed, injured, or abducted.
Over the past two years, attacks on education - and the numbers of students and staff killed, injured, abducted, or otherwise harmed - reached the highest levels ever recorded.
GCPEA documented at least 8,566 attacks on education in 2024 and 2025 – an increase of more than 40 per cent compared with the previous two-year period. These attacks harmed over 10,600 students and educators.
Against a backdrop of intensifying global conflict and weakening global norms, attacks were recorded across 83 countries.
Ukraine experienced around 900 attacks on schools, while in Palestine at least 2,400 attacks against students and teachers were recorded. In Colombia, attacks on schools, teachers, and students - as well as the military use of schools - also increased, and the country remains the most dangerous in the world for teacher trade unionists.
Attacks on education continue unabated
With the world experiencing the highest number of armed conflicts since the Second World War, attacks on education continue to rise.
In Nigeria, there has been a sharp increase in school abductions, including more than 50 children taken from three schools in the same town in Borno State last month (thankfully with most now released).
In Lebanon, escalating Israeli attacks have destroyed schools across southern Lebanon and displaced over half a million school-aged children since March.
The conflict in Iran has also had a devastating impact on children, with over 150 civilians killed by US and Israeli military attacks on a girl’s school in March 2026.
Schools must never be targets
Every war is a war on children. When conflict intensifies, children and educators are among the first to suffer.
Attacks on education form part of a continuing pattern of actions that contravene international humanitarian law. All states and parties must fulfil their obligations to protect civilians and safeguard schools.
The NEU urges the UK government to uphold international law and ensure accountability for all attacks on education. We call on the UK government to prioritise de-escalation and peace, over warfare and arms sales.