World

Pandemic could leave 20 million children 'lost' from schools

In a new series focusing on Access to Education around the world, in conjunction with the Global Partnership for Education, its chief executive tells 'The National' that investing in education is essential to recovering from the pandemic

Jamie Prentis
Jamie Prentis
Beirut

March 08, 2021

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  • Arabic

The education crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic could mean 20 million children may never return to school, the Global Partnership for Education has said as it calls for more investment to fund recovery.The leading funding vehicle said there was a "real hunger" for digital tools but with teachers at the heart of the learning experience.

Alice Albright, chief executive of the GPE, said children's education has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has widened the inequalities in the sector. The GPE is seeking $5 billion in the coming years to sustain education in countries that are home to more than one billion children. Ms Albright said education must be rebuilt, even as governments grapple with the new economic realities.

A terrible “digital divide” meant that children in the developing world were not able to utilise basic things such as Wi-Fi and connectivity that are often taken for granted in other countries. “There's all kinds of statistics that show that connectivity has got an enormous way to go in terms of being widely available,” she added.

The way to “a brighter future” and coming out of “the education crisis” is by investing in children, she said.

“We need to look at how education is financed and ask ourselves, are we prioritising it well enough. I say the answer's no, we're not.

“This is not just another public service, of which there are many, education is an investment in our future as an investment in hope, it's an investment in future talents, it’s an investment in how to enable the children of the world today to be ready for the 21st century or the remainder of the 21st century. So it's not just any public service it's, in some ways, the most vital public service,” Ms Albright said.

Even before the pandemic, low income countries faced multiple hurdles in developing their education systems.

Ms Albright said the most systemic challenge is the inequity of education, with the poorest and most at risk children the ones who are not only most likely to bear the brunt of Covid-19, but who are also facing the greatest challenges recovering.

“We're particularly concerned about equity. This is whether or not girls are getting education. That's a huge focus for us.”

She said “that the countries that are going to be hit hardest by the pandemic are the low income countries and within those countries, it's girls, it's refugees, children with disabilities, it's children who live in remote villages”.

Some 87 countries are eligible for the GPE’s funding, but the organisation had to react fast when the Covid outbreak surged.

“We put together what became $508 million of financing, the vast majority of which has gone to countries to help them contend with the education impact of the pandemic, and it's made my organisation the largest provider in the world of the emergency Covid response for education,” Ms Albright said.

“So we've now provided grants to 66 countries to help them overcome the pandemic. And that's gone on things like distance learning, reopening schools, reaching out to girls and other, you know, really marginalised parts of the country and society, and training teachers to work in this new, difficult environment,” she added.

Rahmatullah, 10, poses in a classroom at Shahid Niamatullah Primary School in Panjwayi district, formerly occupied by ISAF and the Afghan National Police. Having lost his father to the war, he says he continues to hear the sounds of bullets at night. All photos by Stefanie Glinski
Rahmatullah, 10, poses in a classroom at Shahid Niamatullah Primary School in Panjwayi district, formerly occupied by ISAF and the Afghan National Police. Having lost his father to the war, he says he continues to hear the sounds of bullets at night. All photos by Stefanie Glinski
Students sit in their classroom at Assad Suri Primary School in Kandahar's Zhari District. Many of the buildings have been destroyed in airstrikes and by blasts, leaving classrooms exposed and bullet riddled. Part of the school continues to be occupied by the local police.
Students sit in their classroom at Assad Suri Primary School in Kandahar's Zhari District. Many of the buildings have been destroyed in airstrikes and by blasts, leaving classrooms exposed and bullet riddled. Part of the school continues to be occupied by the local police.
Aisha, 9, (L) sits with her friend Rapia, 10, at Assad Suri Primary School. The girls are one of the few attending the school, hoping to become teachers themselves one day to teach other girls.
Aisha, 9, (L) sits with her friend Rapia, 10, at Assad Suri Primary School. The girls are one of the few attending the school, hoping to become teachers themselves one day to teach other girls.
Students sit in their classroom at Assad Suri Primary School in Kandahar's Zhari District.
Students sit in their classroom at Assad Suri Primary School in Kandahar's Zhari District.
Students sit in their classroom at Assad Suri Primary School in Kandahar's Zhari District.
Students sit in their classroom at Assad Suri Primary School in Kandahar's Zhari District.
Once a classroom, now the police dormitory at Assad Suri Primary School in Kandahar's Zhari District. Many of the buildings have been destroyed in airstrikes and by blasts.
Once a classroom, now the police dormitory at Assad Suri Primary School in Kandahar's Zhari District. Many of the buildings have been destroyed in airstrikes and by blasts.
Students sit in their classroom at Assad Suri Primary School in Kandahar's Zhari District.
Students sit in their classroom at Assad Suri Primary School in Kandahar's Zhari District.
Students sit in their classroom at Assad Suri Primary School in Kandahar's Zhari District. Many of the buildings have been destroyed in airstrikes and by blasts, leaving classrooms exposed and bullet riddled. Part of the school continues to be occupied by the local police.
Students sit in their classroom at Assad Suri Primary School in Kandahar's Zhari District. Many of the buildings have been destroyed in airstrikes and by blasts, leaving classrooms exposed and bullet riddled. Part of the school continues to be occupied by the local police.
Boys make their way home after school as Assad Suri Primary School.
Boys make their way home after school as Assad Suri Primary School.
Children peak through a classroom window at Shahid Niamatullah Primary School in Panjwayi district, formerly occupied by ISAF and the Afghan National Police.
Children peak through a classroom window at Shahid Niamatullah Primary School in Panjwayi district, formerly occupied by ISAF and the Afghan National Police.
Boys make their way home after school as Assad Suri Primary School.
Boys make their way home after school as Assad Suri Primary School.
Aisha, 9, says she is not afraid to attend Assad Suri Primary Schools, as many girls aren't able to receive an education at all and this is her only option.
Aisha, 9, says she is not afraid to attend Assad Suri Primary Schools, as many girls aren't able to receive an education at all and this is her only option.
Children sit in a classroom at Shahid Niamatullah Primary School in Panjwayi district, formerly occupied by ISAF and the Afghan National Police.
Children sit in a classroom at Shahid Niamatullah Primary School in Panjwayi district, formerly occupied by ISAF and the Afghan National Police.

In Sudan, it has been used to deliver health messaging and protect young girls from sexual abuse and violence, while in Afghanistan hygiene supplies have been distributed to schools with staff and students trained on keeping safe.

At the peak of the pandemic there were around 1.6 billion children out of school and in many countries teaching was moved online.

That is not to say the classic strengths of the classroom can be forsaken. Ms Albright said the shutdown “reminded people that some of the tried and true traditions and basics of education,” such as being in a classroom with a trained teacher, could never be replaced. It also underlined that online schooling can never “take the place of interaction with others”.

“You know, how do you learn things? What do you learn from being with peers? How do you build teams? How do you solve problems together?

“Those kinds of things, maybe we'll call the sort of softer skill, part of the equation cannot be delivered via a device. And I think that's what people are really missing.

“One of the things that we know is happening in the developing world is that schools are, apart from being places where children learn, places where children receive school meals … their places of safety sometimes.”

Looking ahead, the focus is on ensuring that donors match the ambition spearheaded by Ms Albright.

“Now is the time to dig down deep. Find the money we need, organise it in the right way, work very closely with countries, put them in the driver's seat, and help get us to a place where we have much stronger education systems that will get the most marginalised kid in the world back into school,” said Ms Albright.

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Tales of Yusuf Tadros

Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)

Hoopoe

On Women's Day
On Women's Day
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While you're here
THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

On sale: Now

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Walls

Louis Tomlinson

3 out of 5 stars

(Syco Music/Arista Records)

The National in Davos

We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.

Specs

Price, base: Dhs850,000
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 591bhp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.3L / 100km

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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

Poland Statement
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.

The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.

All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.

No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.

The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo

Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km

Price: from Dh285,000

On sale: from January 2022 

Company%20Profile
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8.50pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
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10pm: Handicap Dh 165,000 1,600m

Other ways to buy used products in the UAE

UAE insurance firm Al Wathba National Insurance Company (AWNIC) last year launched an e-commerce website with a facility enabling users to buy car wrecks.

Bidders and potential buyers register on the online salvage car auction portal to view vehicles, review condition reports, or arrange physical surveys, and then start bidding for motors they plan to restore or harvest for parts.

Physical salvage car auctions are a common method for insurers around the world to move on heavily damaged vehicles, but AWNIC is one of the few UAE insurers to offer such services online.

For cars and less sizeable items such as bicycles and furniture, Dubizzle is arguably the best-known marketplace for pre-loved.

Founded in 2005, in recent years it has been joined by a plethora of Facebook community pages for shifting used goods, including Abu Dhabi Marketplace, Flea Market UAE and Arabian Ranches Souq Market while sites such as The Luxury Closet and Riot deal largely in second-hand fashion.

At the high-end of the pre-used spectrum, resellers such as Timepiece360.ae, WatchBox Middle East and Watches Market Dubai deal in authenticated second-hand luxury timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Tag Heuer, with a warranty.

Director: Romany Saad
Starring: Mirfat Amin, Boumi Fouad and Tariq Al Ibyari

EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

Our legal consultant

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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Buy farm-fresh food

The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.

In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others. 

In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food. 

In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra. 

Honeymoonish
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World Mental Health Day
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

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Crawley Town 3 (Tsaroulla 50', Nadesan 53', Tunnicliffe 70')

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Director: Joseph Kosinski

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