“We have to ensure that a temporary disruption of schooling does not become a permanent loss of education.”

Kevin Watkins is CEO of Save the Children UK; Hassan Jameel is president, Saudi Arabia, of  Community Jameel

As governments in the world’s poorest countries respond to the coronavirus pandemic, they are rightly focussing on the immediate need to save lives. But Covid-19 is rapidly mutating into a destructive force that threatens not just the health of adults, but the education of a generation of vulnerable and disadvantaged children. We have the antidote to that threat – but administering it will take a step-change in international cooperation.

Education has undeniably suffered because of Covid-19. School closures around the world have left more than 1.5 billion children out of school. Keeping these children safe and providing them with opportunities for learning during lockdown is an immediate priority. Looking ahead, we have to ensure that a temporary disruption of schooling does not become a permanent loss of education.

Equity is at the heart of these challenges. Just as this crisis has revealed inequalities in public health, it is now putting pressure on the inequalities in education.  Old disparities linked to wealth, gender, ethnicity and disability are emerging as fault lines in the education response.

Read the full article in its original location here.