COVID-19 could reverse important gains in education attainment and future life chances for young people in developing countries – particularly the poorest and most vulnerable, according to new research involving Lancaster University Management School.
Despite many young people in developing countries now returning to education or employment, interrupted learning, less reliable work, food shortages and significant mental health issues are widening inequalities, according to a COVID-19 phone survey from the long-standing Young Lives research team. This latest research shows that despite encouraging signs that many young people are getting their lives back on track, a complex and uneven picture is unfolding.
“On the surface, things are improving for many, following the initial shock of the pandemic, but beneath that, inequalities are clearly widening. COVID-19 could not only halt progress but could reverse important gains in educational attainment and future life changes,” said Dr Marta Favara, Deputy Director, Young Lives at Work.
Lancaster University Management School’s Dr Cath Porter (Economics) is one of the researchers for Young Lives– an international study of childhood poverty, following the lives of 12,000 children in Ethiopia, Peru, India and Vietnam.
She said: “The pandemic has impacts around the world, but there has been less focus on young people given their lower risk of serious illness and death from Covid-19. However, our research shows that the economic and social effects of the pandemic are continuing for young people in low and middle income countries. Many have seen interruption to their education, stress in the household due to lack of food, and increased responsibilities – especially for young women.
“In the UK we have been concerned about young people spending too much time on their screens. For young people in poor families however, it is the opposite issue – many do not have access to their own device, or an internet connection in order to keep up with their studies, which has led to almost a full year of lost learning.”
The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Girls’ Education, Helen Grant said: “Coronavirus has made girls’ education an even more urgent priority, with 1.6 billion children around the world out of education at the peak of school closures. For the world’s poorest girls, being out of school puts them at even greater risk of early marriage, forced labour and violence.
“The UK is backing research by Young Lives to better understand how to overcome the barriers stopping girls from realising their full potential. We are determined to get 40 million more girls in school in low and middle income countries by 2025 and a third more girls reading by the age of 10.
“That is why UK and Kenya are co-hosting a Global Education Summit in July to urge world leaders to invest in getting children into school and learning – to help economies grow, tackle poverty and empower women everywhere.”
