August 05, 2020

Anna Murray 

United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Gutierrez, proposed a global campaign called ‘Save Our Future’ to cope with the learning crisis caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

There are around one million learners who are affected by the pandemic. Because of this disruption, Mr. Gutierrez is concerned that the learning right is hugely influenced by this virus. He believed that education is the key to personal and society development. It is important to secure everyone’s learning right. 

With the development of technology, learners can access education program by radio, television, and online. However, many learners are still lacking chances to participate in these education programs. Mr. Gutierrez also stated that learners with disability or minority might suffer more in the right to learning. 

Before the pandemic, there are around 250 million learners out of school. In developing countries, only 25% students have basic skills when they leave school. This is a huge learning crisis for all human beings. Therefore, Mr. Gutierrez states that this huge crisis will waste unexpected human potential, weaken progress of development, and increase the inequality.

The sufficient budget is also important to develop the right of education. Many countries did not invest sufficient budget in the education field. Before the pandemic, low and middle income countries are faced with the gap of $1.5 trillion in the education field. Mr. Gutierrez stated that the education budget should increase and be protected. 

Mr. Gutierrez points out the importance of generational opportunity. Education is the key element to provide the equal right for children to achieve a sustainable world and benefit people around the world.