The recent release of a new study by UNESCO, ‘When Schools Shut’, has brought to light the gender-specific effects of school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic on health, wellbeing, and learning. Released to align with the 2021 International Day of the Girl Child on October 11th, the study offers crucial insight into the varied experiences of young girls and boys during these unprecedented times.
The Origins of International Day of the Girl Child
First identified at the World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, the need for an event focusing on young and vulnerable girls led to the introduction of an international action plan. This resulted in the UN General Assembly adopting a resolution in 2011 to establish October 11th as the International Day of the Girl Child. In 2020, we marked 25 years since the adoption of the Beijing declaration, with the day now observed globally to empower and amplify the voices of young girls.
The Theme for 2021: ‘Digital generation. Our generation’
This year’s theme emphasizes the increasing role and relevance of digital technology in the lives of young people, making it pertinent to the discussion of education and learning during the pandemic.
Key Takeaways from the Study
The ‘When schools shut’ study reveals that the impact of school closures distinctly varied among girls, boys, young women, and men, contingent upon their context. At the pandemic’s height, 1.6 billion students across 190 countries had their education disrupted due to closures.
Gendered Impacts
Underprivileged girls faced time constraints due to increased household responsibilities, limiting their capacity for learning. For boys, income-generating activities tended to restrict their learning participation. Girls also encountered challenges engaging with digital remote learning due to limited access to internet-enabled devices, a lack of digital skills, and cultural norms impeding their use of technology.
Discrepancy in School Return Rates
Existing data on school return rates also indicate gender disparities. A study conducted in Kenya found that 16% of girls and 8% of boys aged 15 to 19 failed to re-enroll during the initial two months following school reopening in early 2021.
Impact on Health
School closures not only disrupted learning but also significantly affected children’s mental health, well-being, and protection. Across 15 countries, girls reported higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression compared to boys. LGBTQI learners also experienced heightened isolation and anxiety.
Suggestions from the Study
The study advocates for gender to be considered in educational policies and programs to address declining participation and low return-to-school rates in vulnerable communities. This could include cash transfers and specific assistance for pregnant girls and adolescent mothers. Further efforts are needed to track trends and broaden interventions to end child, early, and forced marriages, practices which deny girls their right to education and health and limit their long-term prospects. The study further highlights the need for no-tech and low-tech learning solutions, comprehensive psychosocial support, and monitoring of participation through sex-disaggregated data.
Last Modified: February 13, 2024