African children with donated school supplies from Develop Africa, Author DevAfrica (CC BY-SA 4.0 International).
According to Save the Children, one billion children worldwide are currently out of school because of coronavirus lockdowns [1A]. Roughly half these do not have access to distance learning.
Children kept home from school are likely to lose learning and fall behind. They are, also, more vulnerable to abuse, as there is no one to intervene on their behalf.
Expenditures on the coronavirus (and increasing poverty as a result of the lockdowns) are expected to create a $77 billion gap in education funding for the world’s poorest children, over the next 18 months [2A]. Those living in overcrowded migrant camps and conflict zones will be the hardest hit [1B].
As many as ten million children will not return to school at all, forced into the labor market or early marriage [2B]. These will be mostly girls, further deepening the educational divide which already exists along wealth and gender lines.
Teen pregnancy and child marriage are both predicted to increase.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22: 6).
We educate children because they are our future. Through education, we try to prepare them for eventualities we cannot predict.
What we can predict is that their lives will be immeasurably more difficult without education. Their choices will be limited; their very lives, shortened.
Education necessarily requires an investment on our part – an investment of time, effort, and money. Children should be worth it to us. But are they?
Save the Children is urging that the World Bank (which provides advice, research, and financing to developing nations) make $35 billion available for education funding, and that commercial creditors suspend debt repayment by low-income nations [2C]. The latter would free up another $14 billion for education.
A total of $47 billion – to offset the shortfall of $77 billion – still sounds like a big number.
Put another way, is the life of a child worth $4900? If not, we can count those ten million children among the other coronavirus losses.
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[1A and 1B] Save the Children, Coronavirus Response Fund, https://support.savethechildren.org/site/Donation2?df_id=4008&4008.donation=form1&cid=Paid_Search:Google_Paid:Health_Coronavirus:Brand:031820&ds_e=GOOGLE&s_kwcid=AL!9048!3!431320276733!b!!g!!%2Bsave%20%2Bthe%20%2Bchildren%20%2Bcorona&ds_c=gp+-+Emergency+-+Brand&ds_ag=coronavirus%7Cbrand&ds_k=%2Bsave+%2Bthe+%2Bchildren+%2Bcorona&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6uT4BRD5ARIsADwJQ1_8xc2b_AoeuiSQ9hamJkZS7gTkkzGOAcvnsx3YawAvHkoeuBndjloaAoLoEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds.
[2A, 2B, and 2C] Save the Children, “Almost 10 Million Children May Never Return to School Following Covid-19 Lockdown”, https://www.savethechildren.net/news/almost-10-million-children-may-never-return-school-following-covid-19-lockdown.
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
Thank you for this thoughtful insight! May God help us fight for those who cannot speak for themselves!!! I love to see how [He] has helped you reclaim your voice & you are breaking the chain of abuse.
Thank you so much! Yes, though some scars remain, God has helped me to recover from abuse. My hope is that I may pass His kindness along to others. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Cor. 1: 3-4).
Your post is heart touching. Its difficult to put a like on it. Because we certainly don’t like the pathetic situation over there.
Even in India, child marriages are still prevalent. Authorities and Laws are working, but people haven’t woken up from their mindsets.
I am so unhappy when I see a skinny teen carry another skinny child, accompanied by an aggressive much older unkind fatso spouse.
“Nutrition First, Marriage Next” – Hopefully people turn to this mindset and leaders lead this light…
Our prayers for these children, born out of the only entertainment of their poor parents..
You make an important point. Attitudes toward child marriage must change first. It is not Covid that is “forcing” such marriages to take place. Another factor which contributes toward child marriages is generational debt. Families view a girl’s dowry as necessary income, to which they are entitled.
☹️😢
Agree. Moving on, we expect this problem to be resolved.
Perhaps you are aware of developments which I am not. Yes, the World Bank is providing funds for Covid relief. These will, however, be primarily directed toward early detection of the disease, monitoring, and health services. See, for instance, the situation in Ghana: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/04/02/world-bank-group-supports-ghanas-covid-19-response.
A sad reality. Shocking statistics and very good information. It’s true, responsibility starts with you and me to help these children and education is key to a bright future. The gap should be reduced.
My point exactly. We must work together to help disadvantaged children.
I hadn’t really thought about the global disparity between children who can easily access an online learning curriculum and those who will simply be out of school for a prolonged period of time. Thanks for sharing your insights 🙂
Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
At last a realistic post about the effects of this lockdown. The children, their education nobody talks of this. The increase in abuse and pregnancies. Reduced income means selling girls for brides. These villages have nothing but the school room for the children to learn from. We take for granted our internet connections and on-line learning direct to the home. This is something now to look into. Instead of the selfish grabbing toilet rolls.
I know you speak from firsthand experience, Nanette. Thank you for the validation.
We must also pray for our leaders. Massive funding is trying to cover the disaster as it has already happened. May they be prudent in its application, such that it mitigates the disaster still developing around us, yet assure we can meet the unforeseen. Whlle it seems children are least vulnerable to the viral ravage, they will bear the greatest long term consequence. May God grant us all wisdom and love in our giving.
You are so right, Marilee.
Thank you for this informative post. We cannot allow these children to be left behind. I pray for a solution soon. God Bless.
Many thanks.
It is a sad , disheartening times. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you so much for stopping by.
As a mom, it is definitely disheartening to see their school experiences be altered so much. I have one who graduated from high school this year, two more in high school and one in college. This year has been tough for many. As we try to adjust to the current normal I try to keep them encouraged.
You sound like a good mother. Involvement in our children’s lives is key.
It is a sad time. No one should die. We need to work together to fight COVID-19 & just be kind and giving.
Thanks for this story.
Thank you for reading.
Anna, another terrible tragedy. I hope and pray they will receive must needed assistance. I am praying.
Thank you for your generous heart, Lance. I am praying, too.
It is always a very sincere pleasure, my friend. Blessings.
This is terrible.
You have a kind heart, Saania. The subject matter of this blog is often dark and disturbing. It may be wise for you to focus on brighter topics for a few years yet. ❤
this so sad and heartwarming! thank you for sharing this thoughtful insight!🤍
Follow @everythingtips for tips and recommendations if interested! It would mean a lot to me!🥺🤍
Nice one
Thank you.