COVID-19 has wrought devastation around the world since its outbreak in late December 2019, and

education, like any essential industry, has been heavily damaged. Students, schools, colleges, and
universities have all suffered significantly. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO), over 800 million learners worldwide have been affected; 1 in 5 students
are unable to attend school; 1 in 4 students are unable to attend higher education classes; and 102
countries have ordered nationwide school closures, with 11 implementing localized school closures.

Over 200,000 coronavirus cases have been reported in more than 160 countries worldwide, resulting in
over 8,000 deaths and leaving several states struggling with severe outbreaks. The COVID-19 pandemic
will have a negative influence on the gains that some countries have made in boosting the education
budget. As a result, this is a catastrophe that requires immediate attention and collaborative action on
the part of all governments, stakeholders, and communities.

Due to calamities and continuing humanitarian crises, millions of children miss school every day. The
COVID-19 outbreak has exacerbated the plight of students in nations devastated by, or emerging from,
violence and tragedy. Our organization, Education Free For All (EFFA), recognizes the public health
decision to close schools; but, we believe that contingency preparations should be in place to protect
the right to education even during times of crisis. We are convinced that all learners, regardless of
where they reside or their circumstances, have a right to an education. Education is a fundamental
entitlement for children, youth, and adults in emergencies, and it must be prioritized from the start of all
disaster operations.

Our organization urges national governments and funders to:

• Prioritize education in the first phase of all disaster responses, and to include education in their COVID-
19 response policies.

• Devote adequate financial and technical resources to ensuring the right to free, high-quality public
education for all during the COVID-19 crisis.

In times of epidemic, these commitments will lay the groundwork for families and educators to address
the new challenges of distance learning. It is crucial that we, as a nation, make education a top priority
and invest in these essential commitments to ensure the educational achievement of our children.
When this specific crisis has passed, it will be impossible to return to normalcy. The COVID-19-
exacerbated disparities will endure and must be addressed.