Crisis upon a crisis: COVID-19 and the education emergency
Zoe Cohen is the Secretariat Coordinator of the International
Parliamentary Network for Education (IPNEd), the first global
parliamentary network dedicated to education. IPNEd seeks to grow
and deepen political understanding of and commitment to inclusive
and equitable quality education for all.
In mid-April 2020, 1.6 billion children and young people found their
education disrupted. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic forced
schools and education institutions across the world to close, leaving
learners in over 190 countries to contend with severe interruptions to
their education.
As countries across the world have implemented pandemic-response
strategies, the return to, or continued closure of, schools has remained
contentious. The International Parliamentary Network for Education
(IPNEd) has been supporting MPs to navigate the implications of
COVID-19 for education. Whilst there is no zero-risk strategy for the
reopening of schools, a lot can be done to ensure they are safe places
to learn.
In Argentina, IPNEd member Diputada Brenda Lis Austin has led a
powerful campaign for the return of face-to-face teaching 1, and on
17 February 2021 children from five of Argentina’s regional districts
began to return to school for the first time in almost a year 2. In some
countries, school reopening was strongly prioritised in government
response plans. Sierra Leone, for example, supported by learnings
from the 2014 Ebola outbreak, authorised the reopening of all schools
by 5 October 2020 3.
However, for millions of children, the reopening of schools does not
mean a return to learning. Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, 258
million children and young people were already out of school 4.
Characteristics including gender, disability and ethnicity have played
a significant role in children’s likelihood to attend and remain in
school. Moreover, 330 million children were in school but not learning
the basics 5.
Children affected by displacement, crises and emergencies face
additional and protracted obstacles to education. In 2019, over half of
all school-age refugee children were out of school 6.
Projections have found that the pandemic will substantially increase
the number of children out of school for the first time in decades. The
Malala Fund has estimated that half of refugee girls in secondary
school will not return to school due to COVID-19 7.
For most children around the world, COVID-19 presented an
unprecedented education emergency. For refugee and crisis-affected
children, disrupted learning is commonplace. For these children,
COVID-19 is a crisis upon a crisis.
Although the global recovery from the pandemic remains
unpredictable, education responses must build on lessons from
COVID-19 to strengthen education system resilience, implement
learner-centred remedial programmes, and retain a focus on the
children left furthest behind.
International support for and investment in Education Cannot Wait,
the only global fund dedicated to education in emergencies and
protracted crises, will also be crucial to securing an equitable return
to learning.
Political leadership at each of the national, regional and international
levels will be vital to ensuring a sustainable recovery from COVID-19.
IPNEd is supporting parliamentarians to champion education,
reaching across political divides, regions and the world. In the National
Assembly of Pakistan, for example, IPNEd Regional Representative for
Asia, MNA Mehnaz Akber Aziz, has been working with her colleagues
to advocate for the prioritisation of education and the furthest behind
in the COVID-recovery.
In a post-COVID world, the political will to ensure children can access
learning must be redoubled.
For marginalised children, and particularly those affected by crises
and emergencies, COVID-19 has not created an education emergency,
it has exacerbated a pre-existing one.
IPNEd is working with MPs to ensure that as the world recovers from
the global health crisis, the education emergency is not forgotten.
With less than a decade left to achieve SDG 4, a generation of children
may never return to school. The international community must come
together and redouble our commitment to ensuring the return to
school and learning truly is, for all.
1
twitter.com/brendalisaustin/status/1359294032376180738?s=20
2
batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/schools-in-argentina-finally-re-open-doors-for-students.phtml
3
snradio.net/ministry-of-basic-education-issues-official-school-re-opening-guidelines/
4
uis.unesco.org/en/topic/out-school-children-and-youth
5
report.educationcommission.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Learning_Generation_Full_
Report.pdf
6
www.unhcr.org/steppingup/wp-content/uploads/sites/76/2019/09/Education-Report-2019-
Final-web-9.pdf
7
www.globalpartnership.org/blog/displacement-girls-education-and-covid-19
Article from Engage issue 22.
BY ZOE COHEN • July 9, 2021
A moment to be proud of and a reminder of why young people’s voices matter. Today, artwork created by students from UNESCO ASPnet UK schools on the theme of peace was presented to Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, alongside artwork from young people in other countries. What an amazing opportunity for our students to have their creativity, ideas and hopes represented on an international stage. For me, this is what UNESCO ASPnet is about: creating opportunities for young people to connect across cultures, express themselves creatively, learn from one another and imagine a better future together. The power of young people’s creativity: their voices being part of an international conversation about education, peace, culture and our shared future. UNESCO’s programme for Pope Leo XIV’s visit specifically focused on education, artistic creation, AI, information integrity and peace. The work was part of a mural that brings together 80 original creations marking UNESCO’s 80th anniversary, produced as part of the "International Youth for Peace" competition organized by France TV and UNESCO.
Most of us want to leave the world a little better than we found it. Whether that's through the people we love, the values we pass on, or the causes we care about, we all hope our legacy will make a difference. One of the simplest ways to do that is by writing a will. This autumn, we are proud to be taking part in the Change Starts with a Will campaign, allowing our supporters to write or update their will free of charge through our trusted partner, Octopus Legacy. Why writing a will matters Writing a will isn't just about deciding who inherits your possessions. It's about making sure your wishes are respected and providing peace of mind for the people you care about. Having a will means you can: Protect the people you love. Make important decisions about your estate. Reduce uncertainty for your family. Leave a lasting gift to a cause that reflects your values. Many people put off writing a will, believing it's something to think about later in life. In reality, it's one of the most important documents you'll ever create. A legacy that supports education Steve Sinnott dedicated his life to championing education as a fundamental human right. His belief was simple but powerful: every child deserves the opportunity to learn, and every teacher deserves the support they need to inspire future generations. Today, we continue that mission by working with partners across the world to improve access to quality education, strengthen teaching and support communities where education can change lives. When you choose to leave a gift in your will to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, you're helping ensure that this work can continue for years to come. After taking care of family and friends, even a small gift could help provide learning opportunities, strengthen education systems and create brighter futures for generations to come. A gift that lasts beyond a lifetime Legacy gifts play an important role in helping charities plan for the future. Your support could help us continue investing in sustainable education projects, supporting teachers and ensuring more children have access to the education they deserve. It's a powerful way to ensure your values live on long into the future. Write your will for free As part of our Autumn 2026 campaign, we're offering supporters the opportunity to write or update their will free of charge through Octopus Legacy. There is no obligation to leave a gift to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, but we hope you'll consider remembering us after you've taken care of those closest to you. Together, we can continue Steve Sinnott's vision of a world where education changes lives. Find out more If you've been thinking about writing your will, there's never been a better time. Our free will service is available until 31 October 2026 , making it easy to protect the people you love while considering the lasting impact your legacy could have on education worldwide. https://octopuslegacy.com/online-will?channel=partner Change starts with a will. And together, we can help create a future where education is accessible to everyone.
Seeds of Hope are everywhere! “I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I arrived at Stage at the Lake…” But it was special to meet all of the Calderdale team in person, who had brought this four-day event together so successfully. Sometimes an event stays with you long after the final performance has finished. My visit to Stage at the Lake at the beautiful Shibden Hall in Calderdale was one of those occasions. As UNESCO ASPnet UK Coordinator, I was delighted to be invited as a guest, but what I experienced was much more than simply attending an event. Here, in the grounds of a house steeped in history, the past, present and future seemed to meet. The English Chamber Orchestra filled the setting with music, Northern Ballet brought movement and storytelling to life, and throughout there was a wonderful sense of creativity, community and possibility. And then there were the parklets; a unique gardening festival at Shibden Park celebrating community, creativity and the power of nature to bring people together. At its heart was a specially commissioned trail of ten micro show gardens, designed and built by community groups from across Calderdale. It was wonderful to see spaces where ideas, conversations and creativity were flourishing and connecting through Seeds of Hope. I cannot wait to see them transported to their ‘forever homes’. Standing there, I found myself thinking about what we mean when we talk about education, culture and hope.
