07/11/2022
As human beings, we all share the same sorrows, the same hopes, the same potential. The Covid-19 pandemic has reminded us how interdependent we are: what happens to one person can soon affect many others, even on the far side of our planet.
Therefore, it is up to all of us to try to cultivate peace of mind and to think about what we can do for others, including those that we never see. It is natural to feel worry and fear at a time when so many are suffering. But only by developing calmness and clear-sightedness can we help others and, in so doing, even help ourselves. In my own life, I have often found that it is the most difficult challenges that have helped me gain strength. As society looks to rebound from Covid-19, the ideas and resources we need to cope and succeed will look different than before.

We don’t yet know the answer – and, in some respects, we don’t even know the right questions to ask. That’s why we’ve been surveying dozens of global thought leaders, doers and thinkers for our special Unknown Questions series, in which we’re unearthing the biggest questions we should be asking as we move toward a post-pandemic society.
In this edition, we look at how the virus will continue to test our mental strength and relationships, aggravate existing inequalities in society, push for greater sustainability and demand new ways for us to thrive in 2021 and beyond.
The current global health crisis also reminds us that what affects the human family has to be addressed by all of us. The solution to this, as to many other problems, especially concerning the environment, depends on international co-operation. Ultimately, if humanity is to thrive, we must remember that we are one.
What will happen to education equality?
It’s no exaggeration to say that Covid-19 has been a seismic event for education. As the pandemic unfolded, 192 governments closed their schools in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. For girls in poorer countries, the closures could signal the end of their school careers altogether. During the Ebola crisis, girls were exposed to sexual exploitation, teen pregnancy and early/forced marriage as well as child labour and a greater burden of chores and care work at home. All this led to an increase in drop-outs from school in the three countries most affected. Malala Fund’s analysis suggests that if similar patterns are repeated [with Covid], 20 million girls will never return to school, adding to 129 million who were already deprived of education.
The prospect that Covid-19 will worsen existing education inequalities is a grim one, but it isn’t inevitable. Indeed, the pandemic could be a critical juncture. Parents everywhere have realised the value of schools and appreciated the hard work of teachers. Governments have understood that economy and society depends on education in the here and now as well as the long term. I can’t say I’m optimistic, exactly, but I look to the future with determination to turn crisis into opportunity. What we need is for those in power to do the same.
Reference:
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2020/12/post-pandemic-brave-new-world-sandbu
