Five reasons children are back to school

Keeping access to education

Before COVID-19, about 258 million children and young people globally were already out of school. And according to the World Bank, more than 1 billion children have been affected by school closures due to the pandemic.

While children from privileged backgrounds or developed nations were mostly able to adapt their studies to online learning, more vulnerable children have been left behind.

Without access to education, children in low-income countries face growing challenges today and decreased opportunities in the future. They also face a very real increased risk of violence and child marriage.

So, there are many reasons why around the world children, teachers and communities are coming together to fill the gap and ensure empty classrooms don’t lead to broken futures.

In their own words, here are just a few:

Reason 2: To do my best

Nexi,12, (pictured above) graduated at the top of her class last year – in an online ceremony.

“I was hoping I could walk on the stage with my parents as we received my award. Sadly, COVID-19 prevented that from happening. But I understand it’s for our safety," she says.

Like most children, Nexi prefers face-to-face learning. Nothing beats sharing stories or doing assignments alongside her friends, she says.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected more than 20 million students across the Philippines, where the Department of Education has postponed classes until there is a vaccine. Instead, distance or blended learning is being implemented, using radio, TV and online learning.

Online learning is difficult for Nexi. Her family has a mobile phone, but her community’s internet access is limited. So her school is providing her with printed work instead.

For Nexi, no matter how she’s studying, she’s determined to do her best. “I know there will be challenges when we restart our classes, but I will still do my best. I want to study well so that I can be an engineer someday,” she shares.

Reason 4: To build community

During lockdown, women of the Wiwa Indigenous community in Colombia started teaching children and young people the traditional and practical skill of weaving bags; a tradition that goes back hundreds of years.

World Vision Colombia, in partnership with Education Cannot Wait, is providing culturally appropriate materials to the Wayú, the Wiwas and the Kogui Indigenous communities and the Afro-Colombian communities in the area, to encourage traditional art forms, like weaving, painting and storytelling.

"In our culture, weaving is very important," says María, one of the lead weavers. "When we are weaving, we are building. First, we must build spiritually. We start with something small and we grow, and as I weave, I grow too. If I learn how to weave well, I will have a good life of my own. Weaving is like community. When we start small and work together, good things happen.”

While they wait for schools to reopen, children here don’t have to wait for an education.

It takes a world

These children and communities are stepping up to fill the gaps left by empty classrooms. But the sad truth is that many, many children are still out of school – and some may never go back. The aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic are forcing families to send their children to work, or worse.

We believe that education is an essential part of child protection. In school, she can play rather than look after her husband. In school, instead of working long hard days for little pay, he gains knowledge and qualifications towards a brighter future.

In February, World Vision's 'It takes a world to end violence against children' campaign will turn its focus to education. We'll be asking the UK Government, as hosts of the 2021 G7 summit, to include a focus on addressing barriers to education at the summit. To build support for this, from mid-February, World Vision supporters will be asking their MPs to pledge their support for the issue.

To include your voice, email your MP and ask them to remember vulnerable children.