Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on girls’ education

Almost 90% of the world’s countries have shut their schools in efforts to slow the transmission of COVID-19. For most of these students, school closures are temporary; they have access to quality education and distance learning; and their education and ambitions for the future will continue after the crisis. But our research shows an estimated 20 million girls in developing countries may never go back to the classroom.

Right now, girls in the world’s most vulnerable communities are not able to access quality education and distance learning opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic will disproportionately affect these girls and young women now and for years to come.

How Malala Fund is responding

Malala Fund Education Champions are adapting their work to make sure girls can continue learning during the pandemic and return to school as soon as it’s safe.

Here are some ways we are helping girls learn:

Nigeria

Malala Fund Education Champion Kiki James is working with school teachers and education authorities to implement a radio programme that broadcasts school lessons including reading, writing and STEM. The radio program is helping Nigerian children who do not have access to distance learning resources to maintain their education through the radio.

Lebanon

Malala Fund Education Champion Nayla Fahed is providing digital learning solutions to children and refugees living in Lebanon. Her organization develops and provides digital lessons based on the public curriculum from kindergarten to secondary school level. In response to COVID-19, their lessons are now available to anyone online and they are training teachers to deliver interactive sessions from a distance. Learn more about Nayla’s work in this brief video.

Pakistan

Malala Fund Education Champion Haroon Yasin developed an app called Taleemabad that digitises Pakistan’s national curriculum. Taleemabad streams cartoon versions of standard lessons for children who are unable to attend school. To respond to the rising demand as a result of the pandemic, Taleemabad is expanding its curriculum and broadcasting lessons on an educational TV program to reach at least one million children across the country.

Malala Fund is also helping shape global and national COVID-19 responses to ensure that girls’ education is a central focus of rebuilding efforts. We are advocating to maintain the progress we have already achieved, prevent a rise in out-of-school girls, and strengthen education systems so that quality education is accessible during and following future shocks.