COVID-19 has wreaked havoc around the world since its outbreak in late December 2019, and education, like any critical sector, has been hard hit. Students, schools, colleges, and universities have all suffered significantly. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), over 800 million learners from around the world have been affected, 1 in 5 learners are unable to attend school, 1 in 4 are unable to attend higher education classes, and 102 countries have ordered nationwide school closures, with 11 implementing localized school closures.
Over 200,000 coronavirus cases have been reported in more than 160 countries worldwide, resulting in over 8,000 deaths and leaving several states dealing with severe outbreaks. The COVID-19 pandemic will have a negative impact on the progress that some governments have made in increasing the education budget. As a result, this is a crisis that requires immediate attention and collective action on the part of all governments, stakeholders, and communities. Millions of children miss school every day as a result of emergencies and ongoing humanitarian crises. The COVID-19 outbreak has exacerbated the plight of students in countries affected by, or emerging from, conflict and disaster. While the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) recognizes the public health decision to close schools, we believe that emergency plans should be in place to ensure the right to education even in times of crisis. GCE believes that all learners, regardless of where they live or their circumstances, have a right to an education. Education is a
fundamental right for children, youth, and adults in
emergencies, and it must be prioritized from the start of all emergency
responses.
We are in the midst of an education crisis. For nearly
77 million children, the pandemic has prevented them from attending school for
the past 18 months. Due to COVID-19 lockdowns, schoolchildren around the world
have lost 1.8 trillion hours and counting of in-person learning. Every child's
development, safety, and well-being are dependent on their ability to attend
school and learn. However, in far too many countries, classrooms remain closed
while social gatherings continue in restaurants, salons, and gyms. This
generation of children and youth cannot afford any more disruptions to their
education, which is why we are urging governments to reopen schools as soon as
possible and restore education to its former glory.
Online References:
https://campaignforeducation.org/en/2020/03/18/coronavirus-dont-let-our-children-down/
