After Uganda, India saw longest Covid-19 induced school closures: UNESCO report
India Today
A UNESCO report stated that India saw the longest Covid-19 induced school closures after Uganda.
Citing a report by UNESCO, Union Minister of State for Education Annpurna Devi told the Lok Sabha that India saw the longest school closures after Uganda during the Covid-19 pandemic. Replying to a written question she said further, that the pandemic has had a significant impact on the education system, not only in India but also in other nations.
"As per the UNESCO report, India is the second country after Uganda where offline schools were shut for the longest period of time,” said the minister.
“However, the report does not mention the methodology used in the study and the source of this data is stated to be a study by a non-governmental organisation," she added.
The minister explained further, "Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on September 2020 had stated that states and UT governments may take a decision in respect of re-opening of schools in a graded manner and the decision shall be taken in consultation with the respective school or institution management based on their assessment of the situation.”
Speaking further, the minister remarked, "The Covid-19 pandemic has severely affected the education system not only in India but also in countries across the world due to the closure of schools.”
“This also led to a situation where the Centre, States and educational institutions had to adopt online technologies and blended mode of education at a very rapid pace to ensure continued education of the students,” she added.
The minister further informed the lower house that the education ministry has undertaken several initiatives like community radio stations and a podcast called Shiksha Vani of CBSE and supplying textbooks and worksheets to students' residences etc in areas where digital facilities are not available.
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