June 1st 2021

As a member of the Board of Trustees of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, but also as a university professor dr. Zlatko Lagumdžija participated in the Conference dedicated to “Education during the COVID-19” pandemic. The pandemic affected education systems around the world, leading to the almost complete closure of schools and colleges.

Approximately 825 million pupils and students are currently affected due to the closure of schools. According to UNICEF, 23 countries are currently carrying out full closures of educational institutions while 40 countries are carrying out local closures. All of this affects about 47% of the world’s student population.

On March 23, 2020, Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) issued a statement announcing the cancellation where international matriculation exams were also canceled. In addition, the advanced exams for placement, SAT administration and ACT administration have been moved to the internet or canceled.

School closures not only affect students, teachers and families but have far-reaching economic and social consequences. School closures in response to the pandemic have shed light on a variety of social and economic issues, including student loans, digital learning, food insecurity, and homelessness, as well as access to child care, health care, housing, the Internet, and services for people with disabilities. The impact was more serious for disadvantaged children and their families, causing learning disruption, compromised nutrition, childcare problems, and consequent economic costs for families unable to work.

In response to school closures, UNESCO has recommended the use of distance learning programs and open educational applications and platforms that schools and teachers can use.

How much and how the pandemic will affect education itself was discussed by Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 2007-2010, Kerry Kennedy, President of the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation for Human Rights, Kaliash Satyarthi, recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, Kolinda Grabar Kitarović, President of the Republic of Croatia 2015-2020 and Chairmen Nizami Ganjavi of the International Center Ismail Seragledin and Vaira Vike Freberga.