Know about what impact COVID-19 had on girls education

Npnews24 : Covid-19 is not going to have much good effect on school girls. This epidemic has affected all sectors from the economy to the education system. A study on girls’ schooling has revealed shocking facts. Let’s see what the study says.

According to the study, about 20 million girls studying in secondary school might never return to school. The Right to Education Forum (RTE Forum) along with the Center for Budget and Policy Studies (CBPS) and Champions for Girls ‘Education (Champions for Girls’ Education) conducted these studies in 5 states of the country, the results of which are intimidating.

The study titled Impact of Covid-19 was released on 26 November. Apart from Terry Dernian, head of education of UNICEF, Bihar State Commission Pramila Kumari Prajapati, Chairperson of Child Rights (SCPCR), expressed concern over the issue.

The survey on 3176 families in June included 11 districts of Uttar Pradesh, 8 districts of Bihar, and 5 districts of Assam. At the same time, 4 districts of Telangana and 1 district of Delhi were also included in it. During the interaction with families of economically weaker sections, about 70% of people admitted that they do not have adequate ration for their meal. In such conditions, girls’ education is in the most danger.

The study has revealed that about 37% of adolescent girls are not sure whether they will be able to return to school. Under Right to Education (RTE), there is a provision of free education for children between the ages of 6 to 14 years in classes 1 to 8. Out of these 8 years of school, girls are not able to complete even 4 years.

Apart from this, efforts are being made to teach students through a digital medium when the schools are closed. It has also been observed that the facility of mobile and internet is not available in every household. In some situations, if the family has a boy and a girl more preference is given to the boy for e-learning. Only 26% of girls believed that they could get a phone for studies, compared to 37% of boys.

Many education-related programs are also coming on TV, but most of the children are not getting any benefit from it. About 52% of the total households have a TV set at home. Even then only 11% of the children said that they could see the program related to education. That is, having a TV or smartphone at home is also not a guarantee that school children will be allowed to use it. Also, one reason is the lack of electricity.

One of the major reasons for girls to go after e-learning is that they are put in household chores if not going to school. About 71 percent of the girls admitted that since Corona, they are only at home and do household chores even while studying. At the same, only 38 percent of boys said that they are asked to do domestic work. During the interview, another trend showed that the children in private schools were sure that they would be able to return to school when the corona was over, compared to the children studying in government schools.

Due to COVID-19 education got disrupted across the globe and the consequence is frightening girls are being pushed for early marriages. A similar effect was shown in other parts of the world, such as during the Ebola epidemic in Africa, that adolescent girl got married early and lost school altogether. That is, after the corona, girls’ education needs to be given special attention; otherwise, it will have long term negative results.

Metropolis Healthcare surveyed it in 36 cities of the country, in which it was found that 6 girls and women (aged 15 to 48) out of every 10 are suffering from different levels of anemia. Given this danger Anganwadi workers are working to distribute IFA tablets in many states, this is not enough. People must be aware that girls can return to school. Otherwise, the results of the study done at the moment can be further frightening.