Qatar - Children's education disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic, says expert


(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Zaina Shouman | The Peninsula

The ongoing COVID-19 had not only affected the adult, but its taking a toll on children's education.

Children spend a large amount of their time at school, and due to restrictions, this has changed. 

Sidra medicine Division Chief of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Dr. Ahsan Nazeer, said:“Exactly a year ago, 1.6 billion students and 100 million teachers in more than 190 countries remained out of school, creating the most severe educational disruption in the 21st century.”

He explained that in order to shy away from the dismissive impact of the pandemic, he recommended:“The presence of an empathetic, caring and positive parent who can support a child during adverse experience is the single most important factor in developing resiliency in the face of adversity.”

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced earlier the continuation of distance learning system until January 27 with an exception to students in Grade 12 in public schools and Grades 11 and 12 in private schools wherein they will attend in-person classes. This exception also applies to students with special needs and students of specialised schools. This is due to the current conditions related to COVID-19 and daily increase of cases.

According to UNICEF, at least 1 in 7 children has been directly affected by lockdowns, while more than 1.6 billion children have suffered some loss of education.“The disruption to routines, education, recreation, as well as concern for family income and health, is leaving many young people feeling afraid, angry, and concerned for their future,” it added.

One teacher from a Doha school said:“As a response to the COVID-19 crisis, remote learning was put into practice and lessons were delivered via online platforms such as Google classroom and Zoom lessons to ensure the continuity of education for all students. Remote learning is the underpinning reason behind the obvious reduction in social contact that students now cope with.”

On a brighter note, the teacher said that some students found motivation in these trying times,“resilience has been discovered, the ability to perform under pressure and an inner motivation to prove their ability from the start of the school year rather than procrastinating till the end.”

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The Peninsula

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