The Trumpet Newspaper Issue 559 (December 1 - 14 2021)

Page10 TheTrumpet DECEMBER 1 - 14 2021
News
One in five children dropping out
of school as COVID takes its toll
Continued from Page 1<
Although school closures and disruptions
have affected all children, the impact has been
far greater for children in low-income
countries, as some lost 20% more of their
lifetime schooldays during the pandemic
compared to other children.
In certain countries, girls are at particular
risk of dropping out compared to boys, with
many forced into child marriage and out of
school. In Uganda, 52% of students who have
dropped out are girls – and with fewer girls
than boys enrolled in school even before the
pandemic, this worsens existing inequalities
in the country.
Up to 10 million more girls are now
expected to marry by 2030 as a result of the
pandemic. Child marriage is a violation of
children’s rights that robs girls of their
childhood. The practice disrupts their
education and can take a heavy toll on
children’s mental health.
Save the Children is warning that unless
urgent action is taken, the COVID-19
pandemic will continue to reverse important
educational gains made in the last 20 years.
Up to one in five children missing out on an education
STALLIONS AIR
Ipanema Travel Ltd
AFRICA FLIGHTS
SPECIALISTS
LAGOS fr £477
(2 Bags)
020 7580 5999
07979 861 455
Call AMIT / ALEX
73 WELLS ST, W1T 3QG
All Fares Seasonal
ATOL 9179
Jasmine Jahromi, Team Leader for Save the
Children’s Safe Back to School Initiative, said:
“Although schools are reopening around the
world, not all children are returning. In fact,
we’re seeing the complete opposite in many
countries. This snapshot survey gives us an
insight into the long-term implications COVID-
19 is having on children’s education in these
countries. Although the 20% dropout rate only
applies to the schools surveyed, if replicated
globally, we’re looking at potentially tens of
millions of children never returning to school
due to the consequences of the pandemic.
“COVID-19 has already caused the largest
disruption to education in human history, and
its implications will continue for years to come
without urgent action. The pandemic continues
to push families into poverty, forcing many
children into work or marriage, and out of
school.
“We know the most vulnerable and
marginalised children have already suffered the
greatest educational loss in the past 18 months,
with little to no access to distance learning or
education. Dropping out of school now will
only set them further behind.”
Save the Children is calling on
governments and donors to urgently invest in
education now so that every child is supported
in returning to school when it is safe to do so.
Greater efforts are needed to tackle the
specific barriers preventing the most
vulnerable and marginalised children from
returning to school, particularly girls, children
from low-income households, children with
disabilities, and migrant and refugee children.
This can include cash transfers, school meals,
catch-up classes, and mental health and
psycho-social support.
Ms. Jahromi continued: “We can do
something to stop the pandemic’s education
crisis from getting worse, but time is running
out. The longer children are out of school, the
less likely they will ever return to the
classroom. We must act now and see
governments invest in combatting the fallout
before it’s too late.”