Beginning in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education systems all through the world, affecting practically 1.6 billion learners in more than a hundred ninety nations. Closures of colleges and different learning spaces have impacted 94 % of the world’s pupil population, up to 99 p.c in low and lower-middle revenue nations. As of 30 September 2020 there were 27 international locations that had localized faculty closures. In the United States, an estimated fifty five.1 million college students had been compelled to stop in-person instruction as of 10 April 2020. A swap to a digital learning experience is particularly difficult for families that cannot afford the correct expertise, corresponding to laptops, printers, or a dependable Internet connection.

Supporting opportunities for lifelong learning allows international locations and societies to arrange for and adapt to changing economies and environments. Children and youth, particularly essentially the most marginalized and weak, have elevated entry …