Kathmandu: India and its neighbors must fully reopen schools to address the disrupted education of more than 400 million children whose classes were closed by the coronavirus pandemic, UNICEF The results could last for decades, with a top official warning, said Thursday.
The United Nations children’s agency said schools in Bangladesh remained closed for nearly 18 months, one of the longest in the world. South Asian Countries There were an average of 31.5 weeks of closure between March 2020 and August this year.
“It happened in an area where there was no strong position for distance learning,” George laria-adjeikUNICEF’s regional director for South Asia told AFP.
“Access to the Internet and devices was very unequal. And we see a severe learning deficit especially among poor communities and girls because boys are often more reliant on technology.”
A study in India cited in the report showed that the proportion of grade 3 children reading text at grade 3 level fell from about 42 per cent in 2018 to just 24 per cent in 2020.
Being out of school also put students at increased risk of psychosocial distress, poor mental health, and violence. Girls were at higher risk of early marriage.
The UNICEF report called on governments in South Asia to safely resume in-person learning and capture students as well as ensure improved connectivity.
“The cost of inaction is going to show that in a few years there will be a weaker labor force,” Laria-Adjei said. “The results will be long-term.”
according to a UNESCO In the database, schools in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan remain only partially open, while schools in Pakistan and Sri Lanka remain fully open.
The report also warned that child mortality are projected to rise as pandemic-related disruptions to health services have left millions of children without life-saving vaccines.
The United Nations children’s agency said schools in Bangladesh remained closed for nearly 18 months, one of the longest in the world. South Asian Countries There were an average of 31.5 weeks of closure between March 2020 and August this year.
“It happened in an area where there was no strong position for distance learning,” George laria-adjeikUNICEF’s regional director for South Asia told AFP.
“Access to the Internet and devices was very unequal. And we see a severe learning deficit especially among poor communities and girls because boys are often more reliant on technology.”
A study in India cited in the report showed that the proportion of grade 3 children reading text at grade 3 level fell from about 42 per cent in 2018 to just 24 per cent in 2020.
Being out of school also put students at increased risk of psychosocial distress, poor mental health, and violence. Girls were at higher risk of early marriage.
The UNICEF report called on governments in South Asia to safely resume in-person learning and capture students as well as ensure improved connectivity.
“The cost of inaction is going to show that in a few years there will be a weaker labor force,” Laria-Adjei said. “The results will be long-term.”
according to a UNESCO In the database, schools in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan remain only partially open, while schools in Pakistan and Sri Lanka remain fully open.
The report also warned that child mortality are projected to rise as pandemic-related disruptions to health services have left millions of children without life-saving vaccines.
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