Health
THE number of children locked out of classrooms has soared again, UNICEF said on Tuesday, as it warned that school closures are the wrong response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The UNICEF Global Education Chief, Robert Jenkins, said this in a statement in New York.
Nearly one in five schoolchildren globally – or 320 million – could not go to school at the beginning of this month.
That is an increase of nearly 90 million from November, UNICEF said, citing data collected by UNESCO.
UNICEF warned that school closures can inflict damage on children’s learning, mental and physical well-being and safety, as they lose their support system and school meals.
Too many schools are shuttering unnecessarily in spite little evidence that they contribute to higher rates of coronavirus transmission, the UN agency said.
It urged governments to avoid nationwide shutdowns and instead prioritise the reopening of schools, while making them as safe as possible.
“In spite of everything we have learned about COVID-19, the role of schools in community transmission, and the steps we can take to keep children safe at school, we are moving in the wrong direction,” Jenkins said.
“We are seeing an alarming trend whereby governments are once again closing down schools as a first recourse rather than a last resort.’’
School reopening plans must include expanded access to remote learning, particularly for marginalised groups, UNICEF said.
NAN
– Dec. 8, 2020 @ 18:50 GMT /
Tags: UNICEF says 320m children locked out of school due to pandemic
