Covid 19 and Impact to Education World Wide.

The worldwide closure of schools has no historical precedent. 188 countries have imposed countrywide closures, affecting more than 1.5 billion children and youth by Covid. In contrast to previous disease outbreaks, school closures have been imposed preemptively. In twenty seven countries closures were introduced before cases of the virus were recorded. With schools in many countries planning for extended lock-downs. And at least fifty eight countries and territories have postponed or rescheduled exams, while 11 countries have cancelled exams altogether.

The potential losses that may accrue in learning for today’s young generation, and for the development of their human capital, are hard to fathom. To minimize these losses, many schools are offering distance learning to their pupils. However, this option is only available to some. While more than two-thirds of countries have introduced a national distance learning platform, only 30 percent of low income countries have done so. Girls have less access to digital technology than boys, which may reduce their access to and participation in online learning.

Confinement and movement restrictions for Covid Victims Child

Children living in informal settlements, camps with limited infrastructure and no access to internet are particularly impacted. Confinement and movement restrictions may be incentives for parties to conflict to occupy from victims of Covid. Therefore loot or destroy schools facilities and hospitals. While empty schools may be targeted for military use. Children with disabilities and special needs are especially hard to serve through distance programs. The quality and accessibility of distance learning can be expected to vary greatly both across and within countries. Only 15 countries are offering distance instruction in more than one language.

Those losses will be greatest for children who triggered by the pandemic, drop out of school altogether. That possibility becomes greater the longer schools are closed and the deeper the economic contraction wrought by the pandemic. Experience with HIV in Kenya shows that those children who lose a parent face reduced odds of returning to school. In situations of continuing conflict, children no longer in school may be incentivized to join armed forces or groups, thus perpetuating the cycle of violence.

The direct impact of Covid 19 infection on children has, to date, been far milder than for other age groups. Preliminary data from observed cases in China and the US suggest that hospitalization rates for symptomatic children are between 10 and 20 times lower than for the middle aged. And 25 and 100 times lower than for the elderly. Of hospitalized patients, children are the least likely to require critical care.

This article originally qoute from this article.