With the closure of schools in over 186 countries across the world, UNESCO warns that there will be an increase in the rate of school dropout which will disproportionately affect adolescent girls and further impinge gender gaps in education. This will invariably lead to other factors which include but are not limited to increased risk of sexual exploitation, early pregnancy and early and forced marriage.
Out of the total population of students enrolled in education globally, an estimated 89% are currently out of school because of COVID-19 school closures. This represents 1.54 billion children and youth enrolled in schools or universities, including nearly 743 million girls. Out of which above 111 million of those girls live in the world’s worst developed countries where education is already a struggle (UNESCO).
Government, I-NGOs, NGOs, CSOs, FBOs, and other organizations have put in efforts to breach the gap between the adolescent girls and boys by enrolling more girls in school and sensitizing parents, guidance and communities on the need to train and educate the girl child. A lot of success has been recorded as a result of these interventions through the years. But with the advent of this novel virus; COVID 19, many adolescent girls will be out of school and not be able to enroll back due to a combination of factors. There will be a multiplier effect of negative factors for the adolescent girl.
Date: April 28, 2020
Time: 15:00 (GMT + 1)
Place: Zoom
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