Empty Classrooms, Broken Futures
As millions of children remain out of school around the world, World Vision UK today launches its “Empty Classrooms, Broken Futures” campaign.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced schools to shut across the globe, but for many children, that’s not the only barrier to education they face.
Violence and abuse – such as sexual exploitation, child marriage and child labour – prevent millions of children from going to school every year.
Dr Carine Le Borgne, Senior Policy Advisor at World Vision UK said, "At the peak of the pandemic, 1.6 billion children were out of school – that’s over 90 per cent of the world’s student population. But for many children living in the world’s most dangerous places, forced into things like child labour, exploitation and child marriage, it’s not as simple as turning up to class – even when schools are open."
"Sadly, the pandemic has amplified this crisis. As livelihoods are lost and parents struggle to put food on the table, domestic and child abuse and children being forced into exploitative situations has increased – stopping children from accessing the education they deserve and need."