This blog was previously published on ONE.
Diana Ayala is a Youth Leader for Global Partnership for Education. She raises awareness of the barriers to education and aims to increase the ambition of leaders for financing education and development.
More than a year after the first announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic by the WHO, the announcement of COVID-19 vaccines has brought hope that millions of lives can be saved and this virus that has taken the lives of more than 2 million people around the world can be eradicated.
Teachers are essential workers
Today more than ever teachers should be considered as essential workers, as they prepare the next generation of children and youth to be influencers, leaders, decision-makers, doctors, and much more. They play an important role in the development of a nation by educating and training the individuals that will build the nation.
The impact of the pandemic has led to millions of children being out of school for months, and distance learning measures have reached a limited number of children.
In addition, even when children are able to access remote learning, it is often not as effective as being in a classroom with their schoolmates and directly interacting with teachers. Therefore, the safe reopening of schools is critical to stem the loss of learning and ensure that an entire generation is not left behind.