March 18 2020, Johannesburg, South Africa – Since its outbreak in late December 2019, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc across the world and like any critical sector, education has been hit hard. Students, schools, colleges and universities have been deeply impacted. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), over 800 million learners from around the world have been affected, 1 in 5 learners cannot attend school, 1 in 4 cannot attend higher education classes, and over 102 countries have ordered nationwide school closures while 11 have implemented localised school closure.

Globally, over 200,000 cases of the coronavirus have been reported in more than 160 countries, which have resulted in more than 8,000 deaths and left several States dealing with severe outbreaks. The COVID-19 pandemic will adversely impact the progress some governments were making around increasing the education budget. Therefore, this is a crisis that requires urgent attention and collective action by all Governments, stakeholders and communities.

Each day millions of children do not go to school due to emergencies and ongoing humanitarian crises. The outbreak of COVI-19 has compounded the plight of learners in countries affected and or emerging from conflict and disaster. While the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) acknowledges the public health decision to close schools, we believe that contingency plans should be in place to ensure the right to education even in times of crisis. GCE is convinced that all learners no matter where they live and circumstances have a right to education.  Education is an essential right for children, young and adults in emergencies and must be a priority from the very beginning of any and all emergency responses.

Refat Sabbah, GCE President, further added: “All GCE members around the world, INGOs, regional networks and national education coalitions, stand in solidarity to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. GCE reaffirms its willingness to work in close collaboration with governments and world leaders to find appropriate solutions and mitigating measures to ensure the right to education throughout these challenging times.”

“Governments and civil society concerted efforts that mobilise resources, and expertise to address the impact of COVID-19 on education is urgently required. This process should include developing long term strategies to address the needs of education in emergencies” Grant Kasowanjete, GCE Global Coordinator.

COVID-19 has affected a large number of students across states, class, caste, gender and region. The shutting down of schools and the decision of shifting traditional classrooms to digital platforms is not only increasing learning inequality among children, but also pushing a large number of children out of school due to the digital divide. Other than learning, the absence of schooling would also have a long-lasting effect on the health and nutrition of children. The role of the budget in the current situation as well as beyond the pandemic is very crucial to ensure inclusive education for all.

In this context, CBGA in collaboration with CRY has prepared a policy brief. It highlights some of the issues associated with school closures which need immediate attention. It also suggests some short-term policy measures that can be implemented in the coming Union and State budgets. However, the overall direction of allocations should not only be limited to addressing issues arising from the pandemic but should go beyond. Hence, the policy brief has also put forward a set of long-term measures that the government should implement in the due course of time.