Page10 <strong>The</strong><strong>Trumpet</strong> DECEMBER 1 - <strong>14</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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.”
DECEMBER 1 - <strong>14</strong> <strong>2021</strong> <strong>The</strong><strong>Trumpet</strong> Page11