Most governments around the world have temporarily closed educational institutions in an attempt to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These nationwide closures are impacting over 91% of the world’s student population. Several other countries have implemented localized closures impacting millions of additional learners.
UNESCO is supporting countries in their efforts to mitigate the immediate impact of school closures, particularly for more vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, and to facilitate the continuity of education for all through remote learning.
In the context of widespread school closures to slow the spread of COVID-19, UNESCO is working with ministries of education in affected and concerned countries to ensure continued learning for all children and youth through alternative channels.
Global response
- Global education coalition to support countries in scaling up their best distance learning practices and reaching children and youth who are most at risk
- Technical assistance to quickly prepare and deploy inclusive distant learning solutions, utilizing hi-tech, low-tech and no-tech approaches.
- Webinars for minister of education officials and other stakeholders to share information about country efforts to maintain the provision of inclusive education in different contexts. Country representatives who wish to join should contact: [email protected](link sends e-mail).
- A selection of digital learning resources that governments, schools, teachers, parents can use to open opportunities for learners unable to attend to school.
- A repository of national learning platforms designed to support the continuity of curriculum-based study.
- Partnerships to expand national and local capacities to assure the remote provision of education. Organizations interested in joining the UNESCO Coalition that matches offers of service and assistance with country needs should send an email to: [email protected](link sends e-mail).
- Minister-level virtual meetings for policy learning about efforts to initiate and scale up responses to school closures, building on the success of the UNESCO-organized 10 March virtual ministerial meeting.
- Global monitoring of country-wide and localized school closures and the number of learners affected.
Regional responses
Dedicated pages present responses proposed at regional level: