As countries grapple with severe disruptions to education caused by COVID-19, several UN agencies – as part of the
Global Education Coalition – issued new guidelines on Thursday to help Governments make decisions on safely reopening schools for the world’s 1.3 billion students
affected by ongoing closures.
Launched in March by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Bank, the Coalition works to foster inclusive learning opportunities.
“Rising inequality, poor health outcomes, violence, child labour and child marriage are just some of the long-term
threats for children who miss out on school”, said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “Unless we prioritise the
reopening of schools – when it is safe to do so – we will likely see a devastating reversal in education gains.”
Indeed, the adverse effects of school closures on children’s safety and learning are well documented.Millions rely on schools for food
In the poorest countries, children often rely on schools for their only meal of the day. David Beasley, World Food
Programme Executive Director explained that with many schools now closed, 370 million children are missing out on these
meals, as well as the health support they normally receive. “When schools reopen, it is critical that these meal
programmes and health services are restored,” he said.
The agencies are urging Governments to assess the benefits of classroom-based instruction compared to remote learning,
and risk factors related to reopening of schools. In those calculations, they note the inconclusive evidence around the
infection risks related to school attendance.
While far from straightforward, the decision of when and how to reopen schools should be a priority. “Once there is a
green light on the health front, a whole set of measures will need to be in place to ensure that no student is left
behind”, said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.Right to education
The guidelines provide all-round advice for Governments and partners to facilitate reopening, she said. “We share one
goal: to protect and advance the right to education for every learner.”
In terms of policy, the guidelines recommend having clear directives in place for school opening and closure during
public health emergencies. Expanding equitable access for marginalised and out-of-school children is also important, as
are efforts to standardise remote learning practices.
They also recommend addressing the impact of COVID-19 on education and investing in education systems to stimulate recovery and resilience.Soap and water
In the area of safety, they advise ensuring conditions are in place to reduce disease transmission and promote healthy
behaviour. This includes access to soap and clean water for safe handwashing and protocols on social distancing.
Practices that compensate for lost instructional time, strengthen teaching methods that work, and build on hybrid
learning models are also covered, as are ways to ensure students’ wellness and protection, including through the
provision of essential school-based services such as healthcare.Focus on ending marginalisation
Throughout, the guidelines prioritise the most marginalised. They cover how to expand school opening policies and
practices to those who are often excluded –particularly displaced and migrant children - by making critical
communications available in relevant languages and accessible formats.
"Once schools begin to reopen, the priority becomes reintegrating students into school settings safely and in ways that
allow learning to pick up again”, said Jaime Saavedra, World Bank Global Director for Education.
“To manage re-openings, schools will need to be logistically prepared with the teaching workforce ready”, he said. That
includes plans specifically to support learning recovery of the most disadvantaged students.
In the end, schools must look at how they can “reopen better”. The agencies say the best interests of children and
overall public health considerations – based on an assessment of associated benefits and risks to education, public
health and socioeconomic factors – must be central to these decisions.