Coronavirus: 850 million students worldwide are not attending schools, UNESCO

The novel coronavirus pandemic barred more than 850 million students from their schools and universities, UNESCO said on Wednesday.

UNESCO said while referring it to an “unprecedented challenge,” schools had been shut in 102 countries, with partial closures in 11 more educational institutions.

“Over 850 million children and youth — roughly half of the world’s student population — had to stay away from schools and universities,” the UNESCO said in a statement.

“This represents more than a doubling in four days in the number of learners prohibited from going to educational institutions”.

According to UNESCO, “The scale and speed of the school and university closures represent an unprecedented challenge for the education sector”.

It has also said countries worldwide were rushing to fill the void by offering real-time video classes and other high-tech solutions.

Some countries were even offering classes over television or radio.

The organisation also said it was holding regular virtual meetings with education ministers around the world to find the solutions and determine priorities.

“The current situation imposes immense challenges for countries to be able to provide uninterrupted learning for all children and youth in an equitable manner,” UNESCO said.