As the academic year begins and the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the world’s ability to make long term plans, schools and universities must find ways to protect the health of young people without compromising the education of 1.6 billion pupils and students.
A new report released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which comprises 37 developed nations, has found that a “massive shift in productivity” is required to compensate for months of disrupted learning in the wake of the pandemic.
The OECD has found that up to two months of classes were lost from February to Mid-May. The education system must make up for that loss, so that the future of pupils and students is not compromised. For those appearing for national exams, the quality of their education could make the difference between passing and failing. For younger pupils, staying away from their peers for extended periods of time will also affect their social and emotional development.
Most nations have had to go into at least one lockdown since the onset of Covid-19 in December 2019, forcing educators to rely largely on remote learning. More than 94 per cent of the world’s pupils have been affected by school and university closures, but this shift in teaching methods has impacted young people to varying degrees, according to a plethora of different factors.
Data collected by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) shows that there are 71 countries in the world where less than half the population has access to the internet, an essential tool for remote learners. Yet nearly three-quarters of countries reporting to Unicef have used online platforms to remedy school closures. This means that pupils living in remote areas, with little to no access to electricity or the internet, are losing out on education.
Even in developed nations, the learning gap is set to widen. Those who can afford the necessary tools for remote learning, such as individual laptops and tablets, as well as access to private tutoring, in person or online, have a significant advantage over those who come from a modest family background and cannot afford these expensive devices.
Dr Natasha Ridge, head of research at the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research in Ras Al Khaimah warns that "in its current form, distance learning threatens to foster economic and social inequality if risks to accessing quality education are not addressed".
If the international community fails to act now, an entire generation may miss out on its education
Concerted action is needed to ensure that pupils and students can still dream of a bright future. The pandemic has already disrupted their education and taken a toll on the economy and, consequently, employment prospects.
Part of the solution lies in providing those in need with the adequate tools to continue their education remotely, whether this means improving access to internet and electricity or equipping them with laptops or tablets for online learning. Some initiatives are already under way to ensure that young people are not deprived of their right to education. For instance, disadvantaged pupils at some schools in the UAE laptops to help with their remote studies.
Such humanitarian initiatives should be encouraged, wherever possible. If the international community fails to act now, an entire generation may miss out on its education, developing its core skills, and the chance for a better future.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Company%20profile
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Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
Palestine and Israel - live updates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Shakuntala Devi'
Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra
Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
