The importance of education cannot be stressed enough. An educated person contributes significantly to his family and society in different fields. A community with a skilled and educated population is healthy and stable. Besides, an educated individual is more likely to succeed in life. Hence, education is essential for a good society. However, there are many challenges that may come in the way of education. Listed below are some of the challenges that may arise in the way of education.
Impact of global economic contraction
The impact of global economic contraction on education is becoming a growing concern for many nations. In addition to economic uncertainty, school closures pose a threat to human capital accumulation. In many developing economies, gaps in infrastructure made remote learning programs difficult to implement, making education losses even greater. Hence, remedial measures are necessary to avoid scarring the human capital stock, which could lead to further economic divergence. The poorer countries are particularly vulnerable and urgent policy action is needed to counter this problem. Emerging market economies require international support and assistance.
In the first half of 2020, the global economy will experience a significant decline in output. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that global GDP will be 3.9% lower than its pre-pandemic projections. Although the recovery will be uneven, the IMF warns that access to vaccines remains a “fault line” in economic recovery. Although the first half of 2020’s economic contraction is expected to be a small drop, it is higher than the recession that began in 2008.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on public education budgets
In California, school districts are facing the largest economic impact in state history from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, instead of seeking new state appropriations for emergency funding, school districts need permanent relief from mandates that are stifling innovation and consuming significant amounts of school budgets. To that end, the General Assembly should reinstate mandate waivers. This program operated in Pennsylvania from 2000 to 2010 and lowered state and local spending levels. The legislation was introduced by Senator Wayne Langerholc and Representative John Staats and reflects current state spending trends.
Federal funds are available to assist states in responding to the pandemic, but the crisis is more complicated than the COVID-19 pandemic itself. The long-term implications of unfinished learning and achievement gaps could dwarf the amount of federal investments made today. Further, this generation of youth will spend 35 to 40 years in the workforce, and the cumulative impact of unfinished learning will likely outweigh the investments made today.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on school dropouts
An outbreak of COVID-19, a virus that causes respiratory tract infections, has been threatening Ugandan children for years. School closures, a rise in fees, and reduced educational resources have led to a massive dropout crisis. But one mother is determined to keep her daughter in school and re-enter the educational system. After a near two-year closure, Rachael Nalwanga is back in class. She says that the steep fee hike deterred her family from sending her daughter to school.
In addition to the increased number of school dropouts, the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is also a concern. In 2017, the number of children not attending school reached almost twenty-four percent. This number is expected to rise next year, as the educational financing gap widens. The number of girls who do not attend school is even higher, with ten million at risk.
Also Read : What is Tertiary Education?
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on school budgets
After the pandemic has taken a toll on public health and education, school districts and charter school organizations are preparing for the impact of COVID-19 on school budgets. The federal government has earmarked $3 billion to help schools cope with the outbreak. However, the money will expire if not spent by 2024. The money is expected to be spent on building HVAC systems and repairing buildings that are hazardous to the health of children. The U.S. Department of Education has issued guidance for how to spend these dollars.
Schools are scrambling to deliver essential services and meet deadlines in Individual Education Plans (IEPs) based on federal law. While some districts initially refused to provide instruction to any students, the U.S. Education Department is encouraging these decisions, and there is money in the American Rescue Plan to extend the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program to ensure uninterrupted meals for low-income students. It is unclear what these resources will do to help schools cope with the impact of COVID-19.