Covid-19 keeps over 168 million children away from school | Times of Oman

Covid-19 keeps over 168 million children away from school | Times of Oman

Muscat: The Covid-19 pandemic has caused the closure of schools for more than 168 million children for nearly a year, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). According to a report published by UNICEF on school closures, schools in 14 countries around the world remained largely closed from March 2020 until February 2021. The report indicated that two-thirds of those schools are in Latin America and the Caribbean Sea region, where nearly 98 million students are affected. UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a statement: "As we approach a year of the Covid-19 pandemic we remember once again the consequences of the emergency and catastrophic closure of education around the world. With each passing day, children who are unable to access personal education decline more and more, and the most marginalised pay a high price," Fore added. The organisation warned of dire consequences as a result of the continued closure of schools, as more than 888 million children around the world face disruptions in their education due to the complete and partial closure of schools.