The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has cautioned that pandemics such as COVID-19 could produce a “lost generation” of children and young adults.

The organization, which works to ensure the welfare of children around the world, says pandemics can have long-term consequences on societies, particularly on the education and job prospects of young people.

The Impacts of Pandemics on Children and Youth

The world has witnessed notable pandemics in history, such as the 1918 flu pandemic and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. According to UNICEF, pandemics severely impact the health, education, and well-being of children and young adults.

During these crises, children have decreased access to health care facilities, leaving them vulnerable to diseases and infections.

Furthermore, schools and other educational institutions often halt operations during pandemics, leading to a loss of study time and negatively impacting their learning outcomes.

And when schools reopen after the outbreak, many children drop out of school, particularly girls, due to economic hardships that force them to find work and support their families.

According to UNICEF, pandemics can also exacerbate gender inequalities, leaving girls more vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence and early pregnancies.

Moreover, with schools closed, many girls miss out on their chance to continue education or gain the skills necessary for future employment opportunities.

The Magnitude of the Impact of COVID-19 on Education

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on education.

According to the United Nations, the pandemic has affected more than 1.6 billion learners in over 190 countries, with more than 94% of the world’s student population being affected by school closures.

As schools abruptly shut down in March 2020, students who were already struggling fell behind in school, particularly those without access to the internet and online learning resources.

Moreover, many students did not have access to the support they needed to continue learning, placing an immense burden on families, teachers, and local governments to provide teaching resources and assistance.

The pandemic has had far-reaching consequences on education, with many students losing out on critical school years, increasing their chances of dropping out of school early.

According to a report published by UNESCO, the COVID-19 pandemic has created the risk of a “lost generation” of learners who may never catch up on the lost time or recover from their learning loss.

The Economic Impact of Pandemics on Young Adults

The economic impact of pandemics is typically long-lasting, particularly for young adults entering the workforce.

Young adults face a high risk of unemployment or underemployment, with their earnings reducing by almost 25% compared to those who enter the job market during non-crisis times, says UNICEF.

The lack of opportunities can lead to a group of young adults that remain unemployed or underemployed for most of their early career.

This situation, even more than the immediate effects on education and health, causes the persistent “lost generation” of young people whose futures are harmed by the pandemic.

What Can be Done to Protect Children and Young Adults?

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the issues faced by young people during pandemics to the world’s attention. Education and employment opportunities are critical to ensuring that young adults have the tools to make their way in the world.

The international community must work to support them during this crisis.

Firstly, governments must increase investments in education to make up for lost time. Fundraising activities by charitable organizations like UNICEF should increase.

Secondly, governments must prioritize young adults’ employment by providing support to businesses that can offer them employment. Thirdly, efforts should be made to bridge the digital divide so that all children and young adults have access to remote learning.

Prioritizing the most vulnerable children and young adults, such as girls and children living in poverty, is vital.

Programs must be established to ensure access to school when it reopens, protection from sexual and gender-based violence, and more comprehensive support for child protection strategies.

Conclusion

The generation of children and young adults that are in school and starting out on their careers may experience significant consequences from the current pandemic and pandemics in the future.

Unless actions are taken to address the learning loss, gender inequalities, and economic impacts of the pandemic, the world will risk producing a “lost generation.”.