COVID-19 on Women’s Education

Almost 90% of schools worldwide have closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While this may only be a short-term inconvenience for some, for others–especially marginalized girls and young women–the global pandemic will have lasting effects. A report written by the Malala Fund cites trends seen during the Ebola crisis in 2015-2016 and the global financial crisis in 2008. The report estimates that about 20 million secondary school-aged children could be out of school even after the COVID crisis has passed. Particularly in poorer countries such as Sierra Leone, governments struggle to provide sufficient fundings for schools opting to allocate most of the funds towards preventing the reemergence of the virus and the recovery of the economy.

Additionally, evidence shows that extended school closure results in increased rates of teenage pregnancies, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and poverty. The economic impact of the crisis forces many girls from the ages of 12-17 to drop their education in favor of engaging in income-generating activities to pay for additional expenses. Even with the reopening of schools, many of these girls do not return and often feel discouraged to attend due to unaddressed concerns and lack of awareness.

​ As governments make plans to reopen schools, there is a disparity between wealthy and impoverished countries in their abilities to ensure quality education. A report made by the Brookings Institute shows that currently, about 90% of high-income regions offer remote learning opportunities, while less than 25% of low-income regions provide any type of remote learning–most of which use TVs and radios to access rural communities with little to no electricity and connectivity.

COVID-19 has changed the way students are educated around the world and uncertainty prevails even in the coming months. Without targeted action from governments, the progress and gains for girls in education worldwide from the past 20 years are at risk of becoming undone. One way that we can all help is by continuing to educate ourselves about this situation and help those in need of guidance. 

Check Out The Following Websites: 

Read up on how you can support NYC’s students, families, and educators and actions that the UN is making to help children continue learning in the following extensions: 

• https://www.fundforpublicschools.org/nycschools-covid19

• https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/education-and-covid-19-un-helps-children-worldwide-continue-their-learning

Works Cited

1. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2020/05/15/5-actions-to-help-bring-the-most-marginalized-girls-back-to-school-after-covid-19/amp/

2. https://downloads.ctfassets.net/0oan5gk9rgbh/6TMYLYAcUpjhQpXLDgmdIa/3e1c12d8d827985ef2b4e815a3a6da1f/COVID19_GirlsEducation_corrected_071420.pdf