Latin America's children face major education setbacks from Covid-19: Unicef
Representational Image. (AP Photo)RIO DE JANEIRO: Latin American children have lost four times more days of education from the coronavirus pandemic than students in the rest of the world, a UNICEF report on Monday showed, with over 137 million young people in the region still not back at school.
Latin America has been hard hit by Covid-19, with more than 11.6 million cases and over 400,000 deaths, according to a Reuters tally. The United Nations children's agency found that the region's children had been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
"While? schools are gradually reopening in several parts of the world,? the vast majority of? classrooms? are still ?closed across the region," it said. "?Over one-third of all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have yet to? set? a date for school reopening."
The report also found that Covid-19 was likely to exacerbate sky-high inequality and push more children out of formal education. With many in the region studying from home, a lack of technology infrastructure, such as tablets and computers, meant many children were likely to drop out of school.
"The economic impact of? this education ?crisis will be felt for years to come," the report said.
Latin America has been hard hit by Covid-19, with more than 11.6 million cases and over 400,000 deaths, according to a Reuters tally. The United Nations children's agency found that the region's children had been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
"While? schools are gradually reopening in several parts of the world,? the vast majority of? classrooms? are still ?closed across the region," it said. "?Over one-third of all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have yet to? set? a date for school reopening."
The report also found that Covid-19 was likely to exacerbate sky-high inequality and push more children out of formal education. With many in the region studying from home, a lack of technology infrastructure, such as tablets and computers, meant many children were likely to drop out of school.
"The economic impact of? this education ?crisis will be felt for years to come," the report said.
All Comments ()+^ Back to Top
Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.
HIDE