Education and COVID-19

COVID-19 has devastated the education sector. School closures have disrupted learning for more than 1.6 billion students around the world. As of January 2021, UNESCO estimates that more than 234 million children and youth remain affected by school closures in 33 countries, equaling more than 13 percent of enrolled learners worldwide.An estimated 11 million girls may never return to schooling. In addition, the effects of the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing education inequality, especially disadvantaging girls, learners with disabilities, people living in extreme poverty, and other marginalized groups.