Parents around the world are grappling with how to help their children catch up in school after pandemic-related school closures. In this blog post, some of GFC’s local partners who support children’s education across the globe offer their advice.   

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically disrupted life for billions of people around the world. It brought the education system in many countries to a standstill, forcing schools to close and children to stay at home, causing learning loss for a generation of students.

The devastating impact of the pandemic on education is reflected in alarming statistics. UNICEF’s State of Global Learning Poverty: 2022 Update estimates that 70% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries are unable to read and understand a simple text.

[image_caption caption=”Pupils from Amedakar Sikshya Kendra School at Dumduma in Bhubaneswar, India performing a physical literacy test. © Pro Sport Development” float=””]

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With the effects of the pandemic still lingering, children around the world need urgent support to catch up on missed learning. Global Fund for Children (GFC), through its Partnership to Educate All Kids (PEAK) initiative supported by the LEGO Foundation, is providing financial support and capacity development to 66 local organizations across the globe that are assisting children who have experienced pandemic-related education disruptions.

We asked some of these partner organizations to share advice for helping children overcome learning loss. Here are some of the tips they shared on how you can assist your child to make up for lost learning:

LET THEM PLAY!

[image_caption caption=”Children playing on a playground in India. © Gramin Shiksha Kendra” float=””]

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• Play-based learning is one of the most effective ways of supporting the holistic development of children. It allows children to develop essential physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and creative skills while they explore and play.
• The use of play-based approaches encourages children to love learning and has a positive impact on their health and mental wellbeing.
• Take the children outdoors! Allow them to play and learn in nature.

“Give your child a chance to just go out and play! Let them play, because through play, they will learn more soft skills than any parent can comprehend.” – Sarah Van Vooren, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Atoot in Nepal

TAKE AN INTEREST IN THEIR SCHOOLWORK

[image_caption caption=”Children in Ghana promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals through poetry in school. © Young Visionary Leaders Ghana” float=””]

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• As a parent, your involvement in your child’s academic life is important.
• Take an interest in what your child is learning.
• Help them with their schoolwork and support their studies.
• Make their teacher your ally! Parent-teacher relationships are key in tracking your child’s performance at school and at home.
• By showing an interest in your child’s school life, you are encouraging them to thrive.

“Checking on the performance of the child would inform the kind of support they require both at school and at home.” – Joseph Tettey Afangbe, Executive Director of Young Visionary Leaders Ghana

SPEND SOME QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR CHILD

[image_caption caption=”Girls who participate in Atoot programs in Nepal enjoying multicultural exchanges and co-learning with international guests. © Atoot” float=””]

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• Spend more time with your child, talk to them about the challenges they face, and listen to their concerns.
• Play with them!

INVEST IN EXTRA LESSONS

• If your child needs additional academic support, invest in extra classes or get them outside help such as tutoring.

BE PATIENT

[image_caption caption=”Children participating in a sack race in Uganda. © BaNgaAfayo Initiative Uganda” float=””]

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• Don’t put too much pressure on your child. Be patient and give them time to absorb new information.
• Encourage, inspire, and motivate your child.
• Make learning fun and enjoyable.

“Though there has been a learning loss, parents should not put too much pressure on children. There is so much that they can learn at a young age and should not be pushed too hard to cover up the loss.” – Suheil Tandon, Director and Founder of Pro Sport Development in India

[image_caption caption=”School children on a playground in India. © Gramin Shiksha Kendra” float=””]

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The PEAK initiative, supported by the LEGO Foundation, helps children to access and thrive in learning environments that prepare them for future success. As the PEAK initiative turns one, GFC is highlighting the work of some of the PEAK partners who are employing innovative ways of making education more fun and appealing to children who suffered academic loss at the height of the pandemic.

Header photo: School children performing at a 2022 World Children’s Day celebration. © Young Visionary Leaders Ghana