“E-protracted” nature of the pandemic has increased inequities in access to education
View(s):The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged education systems in South East Asia, which evolved based upon principles of universality, including children having access to a publicly funded education system, Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said at a recent World Health Organisation’s (WHO) South East Asian Region inter-ministerial meeting.
This meeting was held to revitalise health promoting schools in the region. “Universally free health and education systems have positively impacted our countries’ development agenda, where human capital plays a significant role,” Minister Gunawardena said.
He said the “e-protracted” nature of the pandemic has posed challenges in providing equal opportunities for distance learning, and this has increased inequities in access to education.
“Over the past two years we have opened schools several times, as circumstances permits, in accordance with strict protective measures and guidelines set by the Health Ministry adhering to WHO guidelines to safeguard against the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Despite the challenges the Government was able to conduct several national level examinations by ensuring optimum safety levels to protect the health of the students, he added.
“Considerable resources have been mobilised in ensuring safety for students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic through appropriate practices and facilities in combination with physical and distance learning methods in recognition of the critical importance of children’s education,” Minister Gunawardena said.
“Furthermore, in response to the psycho-social issues faced by children during the pandemic we are also in the process of expanding counselling programme in all schools. Going into the COVID-19 response, Sri Lanka has always understood the importance of health promotion in the school setting. Our school health programme, which began in 1918 with medical inspections and school nutrition programmes, has now formalised the health promoting school programme since 2007, with school health clubs and healthy school canteens,” he said.
“Today we have given responsibility to school health promotion committees, to play a significant role in the school re-opening process. We will re-open 10,155 schools October 21 in accordance with the Health Ministry guidelines,” he added.
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Education Minister of Bangladesh Dipu Moni, Health Minister of Bhutan Dasho Lyonpo Dechen Wangmo, Education Minister of Bhutan Jai Bir Rai , Health Vice Minister of Indonesia Dante Saksono Harbuwono, Education Minister of Indonesia Nadiem Anwar Makarim, Education Minister of Maldives Aishath Ali, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Education Minister of Thailand Treenuch Thienthong were some of the dignitaries who participated at the meeting.