Worldwide 168 million children have not been able to attend school for almost a year due to the closure of institutions for Covid-19
and 214 million - 1 in 7 - have lost more than three-quarters of school in attendance.
This was announced by UNICEF which today, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, unveils the installation 'Pandemic Classroom', a classroom composed of 168 empty benches.
Each school represents 1 million children living in countries where schools have been almost entirely closed, a solemn reminder of classes in every corner of the world that remain empty.
The aim is to draw attention to the education emergency and raise awareness of the need for governments to keep schools open, or prioritize them in reopening plans.
"This classroom represents the millions of learning centers that have remained empty, many for most of the year. Behind each empty chair is an empty backpack, a symbol of a child's suspended potential," said Henrietta Fore , Director General of Unicef.
"We do not want closed doors and buildings to hide the fact that our children's future has been put on hold indefinitely - he added -. This installation is a message to governments: we must give priority to the reopening of schools and we must give priorities to reopen them better than they were before. With each passing day, children who cannot access face-to-face education fall further behind, and the most marginalized pay the highest price. We cannot afford to move on to a second year of limited or no learning for these children. No effort should be spared to keep schools open, or prioritize them in reopening plans. "
