Beginning in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education systems throughout the world, affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries. Closures of schools and other learning spaces have impacted 94 percent of the world’s student population, up to 99 percent in low and lower-middle income countries. As of 30 September 2020 there were 27 countries that had localized school closures.
- Under the Education For All programs driven by UNESCO, most countries have committed to achieving universal enrollment in primary education by 2015, and in many countries, it is compulsory.
- Founded in 1088, the University of Bologne is considered the first, and the oldest continually operating university.
- But even before the pandemic, more than half of all 10-year-olds in middle- and low-income countries couldn’t read or understand a simple story.
- Some governmental bodies, like the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra in Finland, have proposed compulsory lifelong education.
- While this