Coronavirus: Almost 1.3 Billion Kids Out Of School - UNESCO

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), nearly 1.3 billion children are forced out of school due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a joint issuance of fresh guidelines, the organization, in collaboration with WFP, World Bank, and UNICEF, it cautioned that the closure of schools across the globe would bring about risks to the wellbeing and education of the children.

The guideline by the agency presents ways in which both local and national authorities can help keep children safe upon their return to school.

The Executive Director of UNICEF, Henrietta Fore, said, “Rising inequality, poor health outcomes, violence, child labour, and child marriage are just some of the long-term threats for children who miss out on school.

“We know the longer children stay out of school, the less likely they are to ever return. Unless we prioritize the reopening of schools – when it is safe to do so – we will likely see a devastating reversal in education gains.”

The report states that while there has been no conclusive study that shows the relationship between schools closures and the rates of transmission of diseases in such environments, there is evidence to show that the closure of schools has adverse effects on kids and their learning.

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WFP Executive Director, David Beasley, said, “In the poorest countries, children often rely on schools for their only meal of the day.

”But with many schools now closed because of COVID, 370 million children are missing out on these nutritious meals which are a lifeline for poor families. They are also being denied the health support they normally get through school.

“This could do lasting damage, so when schools reopen it is critical that these meal programmes and health services are restored, which can also help to draw the most vulnerable children back to school.”

According to the World Bank Global Director for Education, Jaime Saavedra, the reintegration of kids into their learning environment will be the major concern for educators, easing them into the rhythm of things.

“This is a critical moment as it is the launching pad for a new normal that should be more effective and equitable. To manage reopenings, schools will need to be logistically prepared with the teaching workforce ready," Jaime said.

“And they will need to have plans specifically for supporting learning recovery of the most disadvantaged students. The guidelines offer a framework for moving forward that the major UN agencies are aligned around.”