Coronavirus: UN asks to reopen schools and warns of a "generation catastrophe"

08/04/2020 - 8:39

• Clarín.com
• Society

The United Nations (UN) on Tuesday called on all countries to prioritize the reopening of their schools as soon as they have controlled local transmission of the coronavirus, warning that prolonged closings pose the risk of a "generation catastrophe" .

"We live in a defining moment for children and youth around the world. The decisions governments and partners make now will have a lasting effect on hundreds of millions of youth, as well as on the development prospects of countries for decades" , his secretary general, António Guterres, said in a video message.

Guterres presented a report prepared by the organization to analyze the impact of the closure of schools, institutes and universities and offer recommendations to policy makers.

According to the analysis, the world was already experiencing an “education crisis” before the pandemic , with more than 250 million school-age children out of school and, in developing countries, with only a quarter of students high school finishing their studies with basic skills.

"We are now facing a generational catastrophe that could waste incalculable human potential, undermine decades of progress and exacerbate entrenched inequalities," Guterres warned.

The pandemic, he stressed, caused "the greatest disruption education has ever suffered."

According to UN data, in mid-July schools remained closed in more than 160 countries , affecting more than 1 billion students, and more than a hundred nations have not yet announced dates for the reopening.

Among the things that most concern the organization stands out the time lost by millions of preschool children, a stage considered key and that is "the great equalizer", according to Stefania Giannini, the deputy director general for Education, said at a press conference. of UNESCO.

Distance education, with classes on radio, television and online, leaves many students behind, according to the UN, which highlights the special risk suffered by those with disabilities, from minority or disadvantaged communities, displaced persons and refugees, and those who they live in remote areas.

Thus, the pandemic is increasing educational inequalities and threatens to undo suddenly the progress made in recent decades.

UN recommendations

Faced with this situation, the organization calls for measures in several areas, starting with the reopening of schools as soon as possible, an issue that is generating strong debate in many countries.

"Once the local transmission of COVID-19 is controlled, returning students to school and educational institutions as safely as possible should be a top priority," said Guterres.

For the UN, "it will be essential to strike a balance between the health risks and the risks to the education and protection of children, and also take into account the impact on women's participation in the workforce."

According to the report, in this process it is essential to consult parents, caregivers, teaching staff and the students themselves.

In addition, the United Nations calls for prioritizing education in the distribution of funds, protecting and increasing educational budgets in public accounts , and calls for this area to be "at the center of international solidarity efforts."

The UN also calls for special attention to be given to students in more vulnerable situations and encourages taking advantage of the pandemic to transform education systems through more digital infrastructure, revitalizing continuous learning or using more flexible teaching methods.

"We have a generational opportunity to reimagine education and teaching . We can leap forward and move towards progressive systems that deliver quality education for all, as a springboard to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals," said Guterres.

With information from EFE.

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