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My reflection on the impact of COVID 19 against school children
As the COVID 19 pandemic is spreading globally, governments around the world are taking social distancing and lockdown measures to flatten the curve. 1/17
My reflection on the impact of COVID 19 against school children
As the COVID 19 pandemic is spreading globally, governments around the world are taking social distancing and lockdown measures to flatten the curve. 1/17
One of the dominant actions that’s being taken to insure social distancing is temporary closing down of educational institutions. According to UNESCO, millions, more than 90% of students population around the world remain out of school temporarily. 2/17
The reality is no different in case of Ethiopia. The moment after the first few cases of COVID 19 are identified, schools at all level are temporarily closed nationwide. However few universities are trying to continue the teaching-learning process virtually,
3/17
3/17
it seems impractical to attain the goal due to poor infrastructure i.e. continuous interruption of access to internet &electric power.
As a PhD researcher, focusing on school-based sexuality &gender education, I’ve got the privilege to work with schools in different context.
4/17
As a PhD researcher, focusing on school-based sexuality &gender education, I’ve got the privilege to work with schools in different context.
4/17
Knowing the fact that schools are closed nationwide, all I can think of is the number of girls & boys to be left in a vulnerable position. As all of us can imagine, not all children are the same who are able to in run to their loving parents arms when schools are closed.
5/17
5/17
For some, staying at home can mean labor exploitation, physical abuse, sexual harassment & rape, & for some it could be emotional abuse.
I witnessed story of girls who migrated from rural areas to live with their relatives serving as maid & going to school at the same time. 6/17
I witnessed story of girls who migrated from rural areas to live with their relatives serving as maid & going to school at the same time. 6/17
They reported that school hours are their only safe space to play with their peers & to have a break from household burdens.
I remember story of a girl in rural Oromia who had to bring her father to court by the help of her teachers for forcing her into an arranged marriage.
7/17
I remember story of a girl in rural Oromia who had to bring her father to court by the help of her teachers for forcing her into an arranged marriage.
7/17
I also recall the story of a teacher who got beaten by a group of friends for saving a girl from abduction and for bringing her back to school. I will never forget the story of a girl who survived a planned FGM by the intervention done by her teachers.
8/17
8/17
School plays a big role as the safe haven for children particularly for those underprivileged. The advocacy role of teachers to keep girls in school is irreplaceable in a country where we don’t have a law enforcement that require parents to keep their children in school.
9/17
9/17
It is obvious that closing schools will have long lasting effect on children particularly the disadvantaged ones. It can place fertile ground for child abuse, labor exploitation, early marriage, unplanned pregnancy, rape and sexual harassment, & FGM against the unprotected.
10/17
10/17
Some researchers are debating that closing schools has little impact COVID 19 control, rather has a big impact on how societies restart after COVID 19 lockdown.
11/17
11/17
Although I can’t advocate for the reopening of schools in a country where we have crippling health system, I believe that there is a way to protect children. In case of lockdown, it is impossible for children to reach out to their teachers or anyone they trust in school.
12/17
12/17
This is where we as a community are expected to look after the future generation in our household and neighbourhood. As an individual, standing against injustice and protecting children can be our role against the long-lasting impact of COVID 19.
13/17
13/17
From the government side, I believe that there is a need to build child-friendly reporting system at local administration level to insure child safety. Government and NGOs may collaborate to work on developing emergency hotlines for those who can access telephone.
14/17
14/17
For rural and less fortunate urban dwellers health extension workers and teachers can be deployed to conduct door to door follow-up (including awareness raising) on the safety of children parallel to the fight against COVID 19 mission.
15/17
15/17
In case of reopening, there will be a need for an aggressive awareness creation & advocacy to promote girls education all over again.
On top of awareness creation, there must be effective law enforcement plan that particularly work for reopening to insure school enrollment.
16/17
On top of awareness creation, there must be effective law enforcement plan that particularly work for reopening to insure school enrollment.
16/17
We are witnessing the fact that almost all resources & efforts are directed towards a fight against the pandemic. However, it is important to take deliberate action to save children from a long-term impact of COVID 19 as this is also a major public health threat.
#Ethiopia
17/17
#Ethiopia
17/17
Fixed @Yegeterwa
