UNICEF calls for safe reopening of schools on World Children’s Day
The COVID-19 pandemic
has caused unprecedented disruptions to children’s education, with schools
closed for long periods across India. Children are losing a lot more than just
education – they have lost time with their teachers and friends, nutritious
school meals, and in some cases – a safe haven that prevents abuse and violence.
As the world commemorates the 32 years of the adoption of the Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC) on 20 November, on this World Children’s Day (WCD),
UNICEF India will put the spotlight on prioritizing safe reopening of schools and learning
recovery.
The theme for this
year’s WCD is to help children to recover from interruptions and learning
losses experienced through the pandemic in the last two years. UNICEF
India along with its partners have lined up a series of events between 14
November and 20 November 2021– both in the virtual and physical spaces – to
bring light to this issue.
Take a glance at the
details:
Nov 14-20: Pandemic classroom installation
When: November 14 - 20
Where: Open Amphitheatre, Select City Walk
Mall, Saket, New Delhi
What: An installation of a pandemic classroom
that will highlight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s
education, learning and well-being.
Who: The week-long installation will be
inaugurated on 14 November by Mr. Yasumasa Kimura, UNICEF India
Representative a.i. and two adolescents. Noted educationist, Dr. Venita Kaul,
Professor Emeritus, Early Childhood Education, Ambedkar University is invited
as a speaker.
The installation puts
a spotlight on the need to urgently re-open schools safely to avert a lost
generation and make up for what children have missed out - from learning to
social interaction and more.
Nov
18: Launch of Changing Childhood Project Report – a landmark poll
UNICEF will release
findings of The
Changing Childhood Project-
a landmark poll by UNICEF and Gallup that asked multiple generations for their views on the
world and what it is like to be a child today. For the project, more than
21,000 people between 15-24 years old and 40 years old and up
were surveyed in 21 countries, including India.
UNICEF India will release
the India findings as part of a press release covering a wide variety
of topics including the digital divide and inter-generational differences. The
data will be embargoed until 00:01 GMT on 18 November 2021.
Nov
19-20: Iconic buildings and historic monuments to #GoBlue
Monuments across the
country – from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, North and South Block,
and Qutub Minar in New Delhi, and other historical buildings, landmarks, and
iconic government buildings across India – will be lit up in blue lights on
19-20 November, signifying the nation-wide celebration of child rights and to
put the spotlight on Learning Recovery. UNICEF will issue photos of these
buildings – please contact Sonia Sarkar for more information.
Nov 20: Charter of Demands presented to Parliamentarians on
prioritizing children’s education and their recovery
Young people across
the world are speaking up about the impact of prolonged school closures and
learning inequities. They are urging governments to take urgent steps for
ensuring the re-opening of schools with appropriate safety measures in place.
UNICEF India in
partnership with the Parliamentarians’ Group for Children (PGC) will organize a
Parliament with Children on 20 November 2021, in the presence of Members
of Parliament.PGC is a platform that convenes, informs, and engages Members
of Parliament on issues of children's rights. At the event, children will
present their demands to re-open schools.