The Covid-19 pandemic, that led to the closure of nearly 1.5 million schools in 2020, adversely impacted 247 million children, in elementary and secondary schools in India, a new report by UNICEF has revealed.
It added that only one in four children in India have access to digital devices along with Internet connectivity. Before the Covid-19 crisis hit, only 24% of households in India had Internet access and six million girls and boys were already out of school.
The study suggests, that even though schools in India are opening in a staggered manner, it is crucial to focus on helping students catch up on their learning, as well as prioritise their mental health and well being.