Education

Life during the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult for parents and children alike. The return to school is an important and hopefully welcome step, but you and your children likely have many questions. Here’s the latest information on what to expect and how you can support your young student., When and how will schools be reopened?, We are slowly seeing an increasing number of children return to the classroom. More than 1 billion students are still out of school due to nationwide school closures, but more than 70 countries have announced plans to reopen schools and hundreds of millions of students have returned in recent weeks. [As of early June 2020] Given the difficulty of…, Is it safe for my child to go back to school?, Schools should only be reopened when it is safe for students. Going back to school will likely look a little different from what you and your child were used to before. It’s possible that schools may reopen for a period of time and then a decision may be made to close them again temporarily, depending on the local context. Because of the evolving…, What precautions should the school be taking to prevent COVID-19 virus from spreading?, School reopenings should be consistent with each country’s overall COVID-19 health response to protect students, staff, teachers and their families. Some of the practical measures that schools can take include: •            Staggering the start and close of the school day •            Staggering mealtimes •            Moving classes to temporary…, What questions should I be asking my child’s teacher or school administrator?, During such a worrying and disruptive time, it’s natural to have a lot of questions. Some helpful ones you may want to ask include: What steps has the school taken to help ensure the safety of students? How will the school support the mental health of students and combat any stigma against people who have been sick? How will the school refer…, What should I do if my child has fallen behind?, Students around the world have shown just how much they want to keep learning. They have persisted with their lessons under difficult circumstances, with the support of their dedicated teachers and parents. But many children will need extra support to catch up on their learning when schools reopen. Many schools are making plans for catch-up…, What should I do if my child is struggling to get back into “school mode?”, Remember that your child will be dealing with the stress of the ongoing crisis differently from you. Create a supportive and nurturing environment and respond positively to questions and expressions of their feelings. Show support and let your child know that it’s not only okay, but normal, to feel frustrated or anxious at times like this. Help…

Multimedia products on the Gallup International survey here   AMMAN, 30 June 2020 – The war on children in Syria has been one of the most brutal in recent history. Nearly 6 million Syrian children were born since the crisis began. They know nothing but war and displacement. On average, a child in Syria has been killed every 10 hours due to…

The coronavirus outbreak has caused major disruptions to daily life and children are feeling these changes deeply. While the return to school will be not only welcome but exciting for many students, others will be feeling anxious or frightened. Here are tips to help your children navigate some of the complicated emotions they may be facing with…, My child is scared to go back to school. How can I help him feel at ease? , Starting school or starting a new school year can be stressful at the best of times, let alone during a global pandemic. You can make him feel at ease by having an open conversation about what it is that’s worrying him and letting him know that it’s natural to feel anxious. Children may feel nervous or reluctant to return to school, especially if…, My child’s school is recommending the wearing of protective clothing, which is making my child feel more nervous. What should I say to her?, Approach this conversation with empathy, saying that you know she is feeling anxious about coronavirus, but that it’s healthy to talk about our worries and emotions. Children may also get upset or frustrated if they are finding it hard to wear masks, especially when running or playing. You can reassure your children that lots of adults are working…, How can I encourage my child to follow precautions (such as frequent handwashing, physical distancing, etc.) at school without alarming her?, One of the best ways to keep children safe from COVID-19 and other diseases is to simply encourage regular handwashing. It doesn't need to be a scary conversation. Sing along with their favourite song or do a dance together to make learning fun. Make sure to teach them about how even though germs are invisible, they could still be there. When…, My child is not part of the same group as his close friends returning to school and is feeling even more isolated. How can he feel more connected to the classroom and his friends?, If your child’s school starts to return gradually, your child may be anxious about being separated from his friends. Continue to reassure your child that schools will open again for everyone once it’s safe. When the official reopening of schools is announced, help him get ready to return to school by sharing information on when and how this will…, How can I gently check in to see how my child is coping?, It’s important to be calm and proactive in your conversations with children – check in with them to see how they are doing. Their emotions will change regularly and you need to show them that’s okay. Whether at school or at home, caregivers can engage children in creative activities, such as playing and drawing, to help them express and…, Is there anything I should look out for as my child starts back at school?, In addition to checking in on your child’s physical health and learning when she goes back to school, you should also keep an eye out for signs of stress and anxiety. COVID-19 may be impacting your child’s mental health, and it’s important to demonstrate that it’s normal and OK to feel overwhelmed at times. When in doubt, empathy and support are…, My child is worried about bullying at school and online, how can I talk to them about it?, If your child is worried about bullying either in person or online, it’s important to let them know that they are not alone and they can always talk to you or another trusted adult. The more you  talk to your children about bullying , the more comfortable they will be telling you if they see or experience it. Check in with your children daily and…

Doha, 20 June 2020 - As the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold, children in refugee settlements are at a particularly higher risk of exploitation or abuse. On World Refugee Day, UNICEF welcomes a new contribution of $2 million from Qatar Charity to provide education and child protection services for Syrian and other refugee children in Turkey. "…

Under the current measures implemented in Turkey to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, young children continue their education at home with support from their families. UNICEF has compiled some photos received from the parents of children continuing their early childhood education activities at home, despite the pandemic.   STRONGER TOGETHER:…

NEW YORK, 5 June 2020 – As nearly 1.2 billion [1]  schoolchildren remain affected by school closures and as they grapple with the realities of remote learning in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNICEF warns inherent inequalities in access to tools and technology threaten to deepen the global learning crisis. “Access to the technology and…

Judging by what they tell us, before the bombs landed on top of their house, everything was about as good as it could get for the Matar family. That was exactly five years ago, before the war came to them as it did to too many other Syrian families. They had even started to build a new house for themselves on a plot of land they owned just…

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is of a scale most people alive today have never seen. Worldwide, the outbreak is claiming lives and livelihoods as health systems buckle, schools close and families struggle to stay afloat.  Communities across the globe are rising to the challenge – from health and social workers risking their lives to…, What is UNICEF doing to support children during COVID-19? , Our response to the coronavirus disease must reimagine a world fit for every child. History has shown that UNICEF, together with partners, has the experience and reach to improve the lives of millions of children and their families. We were there for the post-World War II refugee crisis – and have responded to every natural disaster, armed…, Support UNICEF's COVID-19 response,  

Global school closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic present an unprecedented risk to children’s education, protection and wellbeing. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres recently called on governments and donors to prioritize education for all children, including the most marginalized ones. While we do not yet have enough…

NEW YORK/PARIS/ROME, 30 April 2020 – UNESCO, UNICEF, WFP and World Bank today issued new  guidelines  on the safe reopening of schools amidst ongoing closures affecting nearly 1.3 billion students worldwide. The agencies also warned that the widespread closures of educational facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic present an unprecedented…

NEW YORK, 20 April 2020 – UNICEF and Microsoft Corp. today announced the expansion of a global learning platform to help children and youth affected by COVID-19 continue their education at home. The Learning Passport started off as a partnership between UNICEF, Microsoft and the University of Cambridge and its departments Cambridge University…

Without urgent action, this health crisis risks becoming a child-rights crisis. Disruptions to society have a heavy impact on children: on their safety, their well-being, their future. Only by working together can we keep millions of girls and boys – including those who have been uprooted by conflict, children living with disabilities and girls at…, What is UNICEF doing? , Our response to the coronavirus disease must build a better future for every child. Across the globe, UNICEF is working with communities, governments and partners to slow the spread of COVID-19 and minimize the social and economic impacts on children and their families. We commit to: Working with governments, authorities and global health partners…, Support UNICEF's COVID-19 response,