Back to school

On 30 June 2020, Uruguay completed the process of reopening schools. At that time, face-to-face classes had been suspended for just over three months due to cases of COVID-19 being detected in the country. The reopening made it the first country in the region, and one of the first countries in the world, to resume face-to-face education during the pandemic. Despite the increase in infections, schools remained open throughout the year, only closing in response to outbreaks of the disease in schools. Additionally, as more national and international evidence became available, education authorities regularly adapted health protocols, to increase attendance while protecting the health of educational communities. 

Today, almost eight months later, Uruguay continues to stand out for its policy of keeping schools open. While some countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are still debating whether to return to face-to-face classes or delay this further, education authorities in Uruguay have stood firm on their decision to get children back to school. While the context has worsened due to the evolution of the pandemic, mandatory face-to-face classes will begin on 1 March in all the country’s schools. It’s great news for all children and adolescents in Uruguay.  

UNICEF has been emphasizing the need for countries to prioritize education and has provided tools1 to facilitate the opening of schools, with the measures needed to protect educational communities. There is now sufficient evidence on four facts: children transmit the disease less than any other group; schools are not the main driver of increased COVID-19 transmission; pupils are not more exposed to the virus, provided proper mitigation measures are in place; and rates of infection are no higher among school staff than the general population.  

The prolonged closure of schools has a devastating effect on the lives of children and adolescents, causing them to fall behind in their learning and increasing the risk of dropping out, especially among the most vulnerable pupils. Past experience, such as the Ebola crisis, has shown us that the longer children stay out of school, the less likely they are to return.  

In addition to the purely educational aspect, being out of school endangers their health, development, safety and well-being: their emotions are affected; their diet changes due to the lack of school canteens; increased screen time means they do not exercise and can develop sleep disorders; and they risk exposure to multiple forms of violence, from domestic to online. In addition to these threats, there is the impact on the mental health of pupils and their families. This has been one of the most serious consequences of the suspension of face-to-face classes. 

UNICEF is grateful for the efforts of authorities, teachers, school principals, cleaners and parents, who have worked hard throughout the year to keep schools open. We also welcome the Uruguayan Government’s decision to resume face-to-face education in schools before the start of the new school year, following the recommendation of the country’s Honorary Scientific Advisory Group and UNICEF at the global level. The decision reaffirms the commitment of Uruguay to the fundamental rights of children and adolescents. 

The country must now address the challenge of ensuring equity in education for all. The decision to expand spaces and improve infrastructure to create conditions that enable pupils to attend classes is a crucial step in this direction. We must not let the gap between the most vulnerable pupils and those who have had more opportunities continue to widen. Even though the country stands out in the region for its high levels of connectivity, and despite Plan Ceibal, a world-leading digital education platform, many families lack the tools to allow their children to learn from home. This means that the most vulnerable children could fall far behind their peers and risk dropping out of school. We must also identify the impact that 2020 has had on the educational trajectories of pupils, as well as the new challenges that have arisen as a result of the pandemic. This is an important part of designing strategies that will allow current educational needs to be adequately met and guarantee the continuity of learning. 

Despite the significant challenges, in choosing to reopen schools Uruguay has established itself as a global pioneer on this issue. It has prioritized children’s right to education on the understanding that the costs of closing schools far outweigh the risks, even in unfavourable health conditions. We are delighted for all the children and adolescents living in Uruguay.