The disruption caused by COVID -19 in our world is without parallel. We have witnessed changes in various aspects of life in our homes and in society. The pandemic crisis brought education systems around the world to a stop and affected billions of students across the globe. While most countries, schools, and educators offered remote learning opportunities, the quality and accessibility of learning platforms varied greatly around the globe. Schools remained closed for almost 2 years and the possibility of some students returning seems unlikely.
The detrimental impacts of such a lengthy school closure on children’s learning are evident and worrying in reality. The COVID-19 pandemic not only impacted school operations but how we educate our children. We have seen how outdated some of our educational systems are, and unmasked the heightened educational inequity that exists in our systems.
Children in low- and middle-income homes and countries suffered from accessibility issues during crucial learning years, some students failed to learn to read with comprehension while some were out of school entirely. While the pandemic impacted students learning substantially, it also jeopardized children’s health and safety as domestic violence and child labor increased significantly around the globe.
Unless some action is taken, learning losses will continue to increase as children get back to school creating issues for future learning. Giving children the opportunity to access in-person instructions not just by re-opening schools but engaging in additional programs geared for learning recovery and improvement.
Additional help in covering essential material students missed while they were out of school is critical. Boosting a student’s literacy and numeracy skills will ensure a strong foundation for learning.
The Pickering Reading Circle helps students strengthen the necessary foundations for a lifetime of learning. We focus on assessing students learning and target instructions/mentorship to their learning level and specific needs. Our goal is to lay the foundation for more efficient, equitable, and resilient education support that can provide students with opportunities for learning and improve their well being.
To get educational support for your child, email us at pickeringreads@hotmail.com.
Mala Mahabir