Change is inevitable, the youth must be prepared to eventually take on the responsibilities of the previous generation. Although that has proven much more difficult due to the never-ending difficulties caused by the current COVID19 pandemic. All societies and industries around the world have been affected. In particular, the youth, who have been locked inside their homes due to quarantine restrictions, are shackled to their computers all day long as that is the only method of communication they have for education, work, and chatting with family and friends. Government institutions, corporations, and educational institutions must all collaborate to bring the quality of education up to par with the levels of that before the pandemic. According to the International Labor Organization, more than 70% of youth have been adversely affected by the closing of schools, universities and training centers. The pandemic should be a loud and long wake-up call for the world to give more focus on its youth as they are the future of our society and race. Education is one of the biggest key factors for Societal advancement, Technological advancement, Modernisation, and even Globalisation.
Before the pandemic, learners from all over the world and of all ages had little to no obstructions in their education which they could not control. Compare this to now, where learners from many developing nations are unable to avail facilities of a deserved quality education, due to a lack of internet access and electronic devices. According to Education Finance Watch, 53% of 10 year olds belonging to low and middle-income countries do not have the ability to read and write age-appropriate texts. The pandemic has created even more barriers than these 10 year olds had earlier, and the number of these types of children is only on the rise. With the rapid and exponential growth of the world’s population, according to UIS, by the year 2030, 69 million teachers will be required for providing every child with at least primary and secondary education. The pandemic has only made the task harder as processes such as recruitment and training require hands-on experience which has not been feasible for more than a year now and won’t be anytime in the near future. With that, the incompetence of institutions to not adapt will be paid by the next generation as literacy rates will plummet. Class Divide has never been more prominent as it has in times such as these. According to the Learning Generation, the gap in completing primary school between the rich and the poor in low-income nations is greater than 30%. To add, according to the UNICEF, on average 46% of resources went to the top 10% in low-income nations while it was 26% in middle-income nations. In lower income nations, the prospect of earning money may be more important than other facets of life as the lives of people there are all no stranger to struggle, unfairness, and preferential treatment. While it is understandable that low-income nations cannot afford to waste even a dime on anything which may not bring them a profitable return, international organisations and developed nations must come to aid if the livelihood of society as a whole is to be improved.
Knowledge is key to advancement, without it the human race will forever be trapped in a perpetual stationary state. For spreading knowledge to fellow humans and to future generations, education is required. The further we advance, the more comprehensive basic and higher education will become. We have all heard of the quote “Knowledge is power” and education will empower us in ways never before. The global spread of quality education would shift the manner in which society operates, as more ideas would make their way into the world, and their fruition would be revolutionary to our race. Currently in some parts of the world, knowledge is used as a privilege/weapon to control others, to even cause chaos. Knowledge should be a fundamental right to all regardless of their race, religion, beliefs, etc. Education may not have the ability to create an utopian society by any means, as nothing can really be perfect, but it does allow us to build a better future for our generations and the next.
References:
COVID-19 disrupts education of more than 70 per cent of youth. (2020, August 11). Ilo.org. https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_753060/lang--en/index.htm#banner
Youth and COVID-19. (2019). Ohchr.org. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Youth_and_COVID-19.aspx
Education data highlights | Global Partnership for Education. (2020). Globalpartnership.org. https://www.globalpartnership.org/results/education-data-highlights#:~:text=An%20estimated%20128%20million%20primary,countries%2C%20including%2067%20million%20girls.&text=Education’s%20share%20in%20global%20humanitarian,and%20quintupled%20in%205%20years.
Benefits of education | Global Partnership for Education. (2020). Globalpartnership.org. https://www.globalpartnership.org/benefits-of-education
Comentarios