Millions missing out on remote learning during emergencies: UNICEF

Barbados and Jamaica are among the countries that have the highest levels of readiness

(United Nations News) At least 200 million boys and girls, live in 31 countries which do not have the resources to deal with remote learning during any future emergency school closures, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said in a study released on Thursday.

More than half, or 102 million, are students in 14 countries which either fully or partially closed their classrooms for at least half of the according to the Remote Learning Readiness Index.

“Even in the midst of an ongoing emergency, we know there will be another one, but we aren’t making enough progress to ensure the next time students are forced out of the classroom, they have better options,” said Henrietta Fore, the UNICEF Executive Director.

The report measures countries’ readiness to provide remote learning when in-person education is disrupted, and covers nearly 90 per cent of students in low and middle-income countries.

Staff Writer, CARICOM October 29, 2021