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Schools all over the developing world are in crisis. Education systems, many of which were strained before the pandemic, have suffered a devastating blow from Covid-19.
Responding to this crisis was the main focus of the World Education Summit, which took place this week in London. This summit has come at a pivotal time for the world, a time when immediate action is needed.
The World Bank estimates that in the past 18 months, more than 94% of children have faced interruptions in their education. In much of sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere in the developing world, learning has come to a standstill. Unable to replace schooling with distance education, millions of children have been left behind. The effects on learning have already been severe. The UN says 100 million children around the world have seen their reading skills drop below minimum standards as a direct result of Covid-19.
What is already a crisis could turn into a disaster. Without serious action, the long-term impacts of the pandemic could have permanent effects on our children and by extension on our future. For many children, the disruption of the pandemic will not be an echo on the radar, but the end of the road. The socio-economic pressures that Covid-19 has inflicted on children will, tragically, force millions out of school and into an uncertain world, with their chances for a bright future shattered.
That’s why I joined world leaders in London this week for this vital summit: fighting tooth and nail for the dreams of the children of Malawi.
The financial support secured at this summit is an encouraging step forward, an essential starting point in the effort to ensure that as many children as possible stay in school. The five-year plan of the General Partnership for Education will have an immediate effect on “back-to-school” programs in developing countries – targeting children most at risk. An increased supply to the most disadvantaged areas will ensure that millions more children will have the opportunity and the means to continue their education full time.
These efforts will particularly focus on girls, who are at risk of disproportionately suffering from the current crisis. Over the past 50 years, significant progress has been made towards a level playing field in education for girls around the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, the average number of years of schooling for girls has almost tripled since 1970.
The Covid risks setting back this incredible progress. Far from the safety and stability of schools, millions of girls are forced into distress. According to Unicef, Covid-19 has directly caused an increase in child marriages; he estimates that more than 10 million girls are currently at risk this year. Millions more are on the verge of becoming pregnant, and violence against girls, including FGM, is on the rise again.
As leaders, we have a moral responsibility to these girls. Moreover, the empowerment of women is vital for the future development of our country, our continent and our planet.
At this point in history, we are at a crossroads. The challenges presented by this pandemic have cast an alarming light on the flaws and inequalities of our global education system. Our future is threatened. At the same time, this moment represents a unique opportunity for a new way forward. An opportunity to reshape our education systems and put children at the center of our policies.
The right to education, the right to a better future for everyone, boys and girls, is fundamental. The chaos inflicted by this pandemic has provided us with a much-needed wake-up call that we must respond to emphatically.
The objectives of the General Partnership for Education are a promising response to this challenge. Their framework, which focuses on “accelerating access, learning outcomes and gender equality”, is the starting point we need.
This week, the international community made a firm commitment to achieving these initial goals. But we must go further. Pledges secured this week are still £ 716million ($ 1 billion) below what is needed.
In this financial climate, governments in developing countries cannot make the budgetary commitments necessary to lift their children out of this education crisis: we must forge empowering partnerships with high-income countries and multilateral institutions. We cannot meet this challenge alone.
Beyond the General Partnership for Education agenda, there are still other vital goals to pursue. Universities, for example, are a particular area of need. Last year, I was proud to be named Champion of Higher Education in Africa. This reflects my firm belief that in Malawi and elsewhere we cannot neglect higher education. This risks limiting the potential of our youth. We cannot cap the ambition of the leaders of tomorrow.
Another area where urgent support is perhaps most clearly needed is immunization. This week, I used my meetings with the British government in London to push for more support in the form of Covid-19 vaccines for Africa. Without additional support, we cannot reopen schools at the pace we need.
Africa must be granted the right to produce vaccines for Africans. This is in line with the values of equity and solidarity at the heart of liberal societies. Investing in education will be futile if the endless cycle of confinements is not stopped by vaccinations in our countries. Vaccine nationalism deprives millions of children of the right to education.
There is still a significant financial gap between what the developing world needs and what the rest of the world is willing to give. This gap has held back our recent progress and entrenched some of the inequalities and inefficiencies revealed by the pandemic.
Now is the time to close this gap and make significant, long-term commitments to empower young people in the developing world. Doing so is not charity, but an investment – an investment that will pay dividends for the entire planet in the long run. Ignoring this challenge, on the other hand, could pave the way for a catastrophe that could stunt global development for years to come.
As I applaud and thank the partners of the General Partnership for Education for their valuable contributions to this summit, my government and my partners across the developing world will continue to push for more support.
As Africans, we are often forced to compromise on many points in our bilateral and multilateral agreements with our development partners. When it comes to our children, however, we must stand firm. We cannot compromise on education. We have to give it the investment it needs – there is no more time to waste.
Lazarus Chakwera is President of Malawi
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