How COVID-19 has laid bare the inequality gap in education for girls

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the education sector, widening the gap between the privileged and the marginalized. This inequality has particularly affected girls, exacerbating gender-based barriers and poverty-related challenges. In a recent interview on CNBC Africa, Angeline Murimirwa, the Executive Director of Africa at Camfed, shed light on the long-term consequences of the pandemic on girls' education and the labor market. Murimirwa emphasized the urgent need for holistic solutions to address the deep-rooted issues facing the most vulnerable children, especially girls. She highlighted three key areas of impact caused by the pandemic: increased poverty and hunger leading to early marriages, inadequate social and learning support, and a lack of critical infrastructure for safe and effective learning environments. These challenges, compounded by the existing disparities in access to education, paint a grim picture of a lost generation whose potential may be irreversibly affected. Murimirwa also shared actionable steps to bridge the inequality gap, including building support networks for marginalized communities, investing in essential infrastructure, and prioritizing quality education and social support. Furthermore, she stressed the importance of local financing and global partnerships to ensure sustainable solutions for the education crisis. The interview concluded with a call to preserve the gains made in education and prioritize the critical issues facing the sector, such as lack of qualified teachers and access to online learning. Murimirwa's message resonates as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to address the educational inequality laid bare by the pandemic, especially for girls in underserved communities.