THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF CORONA VIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) ON GIRL EDUCATION
The pandemic is having a tremendous effect on learning in communities where education is already not a priority, specifically girls’ education. By March 2020, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reported nearly 3 million students across the world had their education disrupted due to COVID-19 after just 13 countries ordered schools’ closure. By April 2020, 194 countries instituted countrywide schools’ closure, and this affected 91% of enrolled learners, which totals to 1.6 billion children worldwide.
Many girls especially the vulnerable ones in remote communities are the most affected, unfortunately. Even with the reopening of schools in some countries of the world, the state of girls’ education is a far cry from what it used to be before the pandemic. With families dealing with incomparable levels of stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of intra-family conflict and gender-based violence increases, negatively impacting girls’ self-confidence, well-being, and ability to effectively navigate key life decisions.
It is girls’ education that produces great gains in areas of health, infant mortality and the economic well-being of families and the society at large. However, these girls are the first to be pulled out of school, put to work and care for younger siblings when families face economic hardship. Loss of household income has also led to child marriage to generate income for the family.
According to research, with the emergence of Covid-19, girls spend more time with men and boys compared to when they are in school, which can lead to involvement in risky sexual behavior and increased risk of sexual violence and exploitation. In due course, this can lead to an increase in teenage pregnancies which plays a huge factor in girls not returning to school.
Finally, girls sometimes become primary caregivers for sick members of the families and for younger siblings pulling them away from school and sometimes permanently in cases where girls become the household breadwinners.
With all these factors, COVID-19 could result in severe outcomes and disproportionate effects in girls’ education, but this can be forestalled if government and non-governmental agencies are able to include gender in school reopening plans and ensure girls still have the means to continue learning while at home. For countries who have lifted the lockdown on schools, it is important that plans are in place to follow up and reengage schoolgirls who do not return to school.
Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of gender-based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media platforms for more interesting episodes.