July 7, 2020.

PITCH
M M Rashiq Ishmam and Aung Myin Thu, Global Correspondents, Diinsider

Topic (1) Navigating a New Normal Education from Developing Countries

Topic (2) Navigating a “New Normal Education” in Bangladesh and Myanmar

According to UNESCO data, as from 1 June 2020, 1.2 billion students worldwide (68,0% of world total
learners) were affected as a result of the closure of education institutes in 144 countries. Both Bangladesh
and Myanmar have been beaten by the pandemic similarly. Since 17 March, all educational institutions in
both countries have remained closed. Undoubtedly, the direct and most immediate impact of the Covid-19
on the education sector is the loss of learning opportunities. More than 36.0 million students (including
17.0 million in primary school) are now out of school. Covid-19 essentially resulted in the discontinuation
of the regular academic curriculum of some 40.0 million students across the country. COVID-19 has
already had an adverse effect on education from primary to university level, which raised the rich-poor
gap in the education system. Children of rich families have access to online and TV-based alternative
means of education introduced by the government and private institutions for continuing education in
schools, colleges and universities during the general holiday declared in the midst of the coronavirus
outbreak. Since 44% of Bangladesh households do not have a TV, and still more people do not have
access to the Internet, a significant number of children from deprived families would lose interest in
pursuing education. Parents of these children have become unemployed or are facing an acute financial
crisis due to an outbreak of coronavirus in the country, losing the ability to send them back to school.

However, the loss of school hours is not the only impact of the Covid-19 crisis. In addition to schooling,
schools are also a critical source of social security, education, wellbeing and psychosocial help for
children and young adults. As a result, in addition to learning losses, school closures have far-reaching
impacts on social and economic issues such as school dropouts, digital divides, food insecurity and
malnutrition, childcare and disability services.

As the 'new normal' in which we will live, Covid-19 Pandemic has brought outcomes where we have
nothing else but to cope and to cope. The field of education is no exception as countries around the world
search for a suitable alternative to provide their students with education in the midst of the corona virus
outbreak.

Objectives

 Understanding the impact of COVID 19 on education in developing countries with highlights

from Bangladesh and Myanmar
 To find out the challenges of education sector due to the coronavirus
 To seek for the probable remedies.
Target Audience

 Education think-tanks and reformers

 Teachers
 Students from school to university level
 People from 20-70 age range
 Poly makers and Civil society