Education in times of COVID-19 ...
Education is the passport for the future. It is through learning and developing skills of critical thinking that children can build resilience to risk of poverty and trafficking as well as to change their own lives. That is why my project started with education. Whenever I travelled to Laos, I brought books to boost literacy; I taught English, geography, math; I organised anti-trafficking workshops…
These were actions, which I could perform once on the spot and with more responsibilities back in Europe and less time to travel, last year I thought of investing in education in a more sustainable way and laid the ground for launching a scholarship programme. I promised that I would sponsor two best students.
….but in the meantime the World has changed…
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to education worldwide, affecting more more than 1.57 billion students by nationwide school closures in more than 190 countries. The pandemic has highlighted inequalities in access to education and exposed weaknesses in entire education systems. Whereas in Europe children could follow some online classes, the schools in Laos closed down completely for two months. Not only I lost track of schoolyear timelines, also the borders got shut and it is the first time since years that I have not been able to travel to Loas.
But the power of my project is that it became so known that there are always people around, who believe in me and keep on supporting me, what motivates me not to give up and to look for new modalities to work, even in COVID-19 times.
In fact Laos has reported very little cases of COVID-19 and after two months schools reopened. The kids had to finish their classes during the summer. It is when I reached out to all my contacts there to reassure them that I am still willing to keep the promise, but I need help on the ground.
It was the English teacher, who helped me to organise it all. I gave him the contact to the director of the Phonsavan Highschool in Pakse who told him that the entrance exams were to be organised at the end of August. The English teacher checked who had the best grades. Pay* and Thipi* got respectively 48,25 and 47 points at the final exam and he proposed them for scholarships. He explained to their families that I am ready to sponsor 3 years of their education in the Phonsavan Highschool in Pakse, 140 km north from the island. It is a boarding school, hence beyond the education it also offers accommodation and food, which would make the girls stay there safe and secure. The school is known also as a Talent school, as it has well recognised level of education.
So eventually Pay and Thipi went to Pakse to sit entrance exams. It was an exiting and quite a long trip, I required travelling by boat, small truck and a car. The girls had to have their photos taken, register for exams and do their best. Given that the level of schooling on the island is quite low, I was quite stressed myself waiting for the results, but both of them passed and were admitted to the Phonsavan Talent Highschool!
*the real names were changed to protect the girls’ identities
These were actions, which I could perform once on the spot and with more responsibilities back in Europe and less time to travel, last year I thought of investing in education in a more sustainable way and laid the ground for launching a scholarship programme. I promised that I would sponsor two best students.
….but in the meantime the World has changed…
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to education worldwide, affecting more more than 1.57 billion students by nationwide school closures in more than 190 countries. The pandemic has highlighted inequalities in access to education and exposed weaknesses in entire education systems. Whereas in Europe children could follow some online classes, the schools in Laos closed down completely for two months. Not only I lost track of schoolyear timelines, also the borders got shut and it is the first time since years that I have not been able to travel to Loas.
But the power of my project is that it became so known that there are always people around, who believe in me and keep on supporting me, what motivates me not to give up and to look for new modalities to work, even in COVID-19 times.
In fact Laos has reported very little cases of COVID-19 and after two months schools reopened. The kids had to finish their classes during the summer. It is when I reached out to all my contacts there to reassure them that I am still willing to keep the promise, but I need help on the ground.
It was the English teacher, who helped me to organise it all. I gave him the contact to the director of the Phonsavan Highschool in Pakse who told him that the entrance exams were to be organised at the end of August. The English teacher checked who had the best grades. Pay* and Thipi* got respectively 48,25 and 47 points at the final exam and he proposed them for scholarships. He explained to their families that I am ready to sponsor 3 years of their education in the Phonsavan Highschool in Pakse, 140 km north from the island. It is a boarding school, hence beyond the education it also offers accommodation and food, which would make the girls stay there safe and secure. The school is known also as a Talent school, as it has well recognised level of education.
So eventually Pay and Thipi went to Pakse to sit entrance exams. It was an exiting and quite a long trip, I required travelling by boat, small truck and a car. The girls had to have their photos taken, register for exams and do their best. Given that the level of schooling on the island is quite low, I was quite stressed myself waiting for the results, but both of them passed and were admitted to the Phonsavan Talent Highschool!
*the real names were changed to protect the girls’ identities
Week later, Pay and Thipi had to leave for good and move to Pakse. They will start three years cycle of education. Pay and Thipi were allocated a room with two other girls and they quickly settled down. Even if missing their families, they will get new friends, new skills and opportunities. They will improve their general knowledge, their English, they will become more independent and once back to the island will be able to tell everyone how it is to study in the Talent School.
I hope this will motivate the younger students to study harder, to compete in excelling in studying in order to get the scholarship next year. This way, not only Pay and Thipi can benefit from the scholarship in Pakse, but hopefully the level of education on Don Khon island will also increase.
Education is not only a fundamental human right. It is an enabling right with direct impact on the realisation of all other human rights. It is a global common good and a primary driver of progress across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals as a bedrock of just, equal, inclusive peaceful societies. I am extremely happy that even in those difficult times, I could continue with the project as planned and managed to launch the scholarship initiative.
I hope this will motivate the younger students to study harder, to compete in excelling in studying in order to get the scholarship next year. This way, not only Pay and Thipi can benefit from the scholarship in Pakse, but hopefully the level of education on Don Khon island will also increase.
Education is not only a fundamental human right. It is an enabling right with direct impact on the realisation of all other human rights. It is a global common good and a primary driver of progress across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals as a bedrock of just, equal, inclusive peaceful societies. I am extremely happy that even in those difficult times, I could continue with the project as planned and managed to launch the scholarship initiative.