Developing: 10 million children may never return to school

Fresh indications have emerged that over 10 million children may never return to school, as a result of the continuous lockdown of schools globally.

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This development is coming following the extended lockdown across the world, due to the rising numbers of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This was contained in a report by an International Non-Governmental Organisation, ‘Save the Children International’, in its Save Our Education report for the year

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According to the Chief Executive Officer of the group, Inger Ashing, the deep budget cuts to education and rising poverty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are the main factor why, at least, 9.7 million children could be out of school forever by the end of the year.

Also, millions more will be falling behind in learning.

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He quoted the report saying that, “Girls are likely to be much worse affected than boys, with many forced into early marriage. As the impacts of the recession triggered by Covid-19 hits families, many children may be forced out of school and into labour markets.”

“Governments and donors need to respond to this global education emergency by urgently investing in education as schools begin to reopen after months of lockdown.

“Commercial creditors need to suspend debt repayments by low-income countries – a move that could free up $14bn for investment in education.

“It would be unconscionable to allow resources that are so desperately needed to keep alive the hope that comes with education to be diverted into debt repayments,”

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The group also called on governments to use their budgets to ensure children have access to distance learning whilst lockdown measures remain; and to support children who have fallen behind.

A shortfall of education spending

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The report reveals the devastating effects the COVID-19 outbreak is set to have on learning. In a mid-range budget scenario. The recession will leave a shortfall of $77 billion in education spending in some of the poorest countries in the world over the next 18 months.

“In a worst-case scenario, under which governments shift resources from education to other COVID-19 response areas, that figure could climb to an astonishing $192 billion by the end of 2021.

“The impending budget crunch comes after lockdown measures saw a peak of 1.6 billion children out of school, globally.

“Before the outbreak, 258 million children and adolescents were already out of school. A Vulnerability Index in the report shows that in 12 countries, mainly in West and Central Africa but also including Yemen and Afghanistan, children are at extremely high risk of not returning to school after the lockdowns lift – especially girls.

“In another 28 countries children are at moderate or high risk of not going back to school and of the longer-term effects of widening inequalities. In total, Save the Children estimates that some 9.7 million children could be forced out of school by the end of this year.

“Currently, more than 1 billion children are out of school due to the global pandemic. Many of the top-12 countries in the report’s index already have high out-of-school rates and a sharp divide in school attendance along wealth and gender lines. These factors are likely to be exacerbated by school closures, with girls and children from poverty-stricken families being hardest hit.

READ ALSO: WAEC: Lagosians express divergent views over FG’s refusal to reopen schools

“Children in these countries are also caught in a vicious cycle of risk: they face greater risks of being forced into child labour and, adolescent girls are especially at risk of gender-based violence, child marriage and teenage pregnancy, which increases the longer they are out of school. The same risks directly impact their ability to return to school at all. Combined with the sharp decrease of education spending, the COVID-19 outbreak could be a cruel blow for millions of children.

“Despite the efforts of governments and organisations, some 500 million children had no access to distance learning and many of the poorest children may not have literate parents who can help them. Having lost out on months of learning, many children will struggle to catch up, raising the likelihood of drop out.”

The organisation warned that school closures have meant much more than education loss for many children – taking away safe places where children can play with friends, have meals and access health services, including services for their mental health. Teachers are often front-line responders and protectors for children who might suffer from abuse at home. With school closures, these safeguards fall away.

Access to distance learning 

In its conclusion, the report urged governments and donors to ensure that out-of-school children have access to distance learning and protection services.

“Those who return to school should be able to do so in a safe and inclusive way, with access to school meals and health services. Learning assessments and catch up classes must be adapted so that children can make up for their lost learning.

The organisation further called for increased funding of education with $35 billion to be made available by the World Bank.

“National governments must make education a priority by producing and implementing COVID-19 education responses and recovery plans to ensure the most marginalised children are able to continue learning,” the report added.

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