Report: Nearly 260 Million Children Are Still Excluded from Education; Pandemic Exacerbates the Breach

Over 258 million children worldwide still have no access to education, mostly due to economic poverty and discrimination. A United Nations report released this Tuesday stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem. During the outbreak, about 90% of the student population was affected by school closures. However, despite the Coronavirus pandemic, one-in-five children and youngsters were excluded from schooling before the outbreak. "Children from poorer communities as well as girls, the disabled, immigrants and ethnic minorities were at a distinct educational disadvantage in many countries," said UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The mentioned quarter-million getting no education represent 17% of all school-aged children. Most of them belong to South and Central Asia and Sub-Saharan African countries. In 20 Sub-Saharan African countries, hardly any rural girls complete secondary school. [See graphic below]. "Lessons from the past – such as with Ebola – have shown that health crises can leave many behind, in particular the poorest girls, many of whom may never return to school," Audrey Azoulay, General Manager at UNESCO, wrote in a report. UNESCO urged countries to focus on disadvantaged children when schools reopen after coronavirus lockdowns. "To rise to the challenges of our time, a move towards more inclusive education is imperative," Azoulay said. "Failure to act will hinder the progress of societies." "It has never been more crucial to make education a universal right, and a reality for all”, he added. The core recommendation of the UN report is to understand that inclusive education means equal access for all learners, notwithstanding identity, background, or ability. "Inclusion is not just an economic but also a moral imperative," notes UNESCO.   JUST RELEASED! The new @GEMReport says fewer than 10% of countries have laws that help ensure full inclusion in education #AllmeansALL https://t.co/7NJZ3iUi5O pic.twitter.com/A1xHvIYmm8 — Global Partnership for Education (@GPforEducation) June 23, 2020

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Google and Apple Will Release in Mid-May a Controversial Tool to Track Down Infected People

Google and Apple teamed up to develop a system for tracking the spread of the COVID-19, which will encourage users to share data through Bluetooth and approved apps from public health organizations. These apps would exchange anonymous identified data with other participating phones. If the user voluntarily reports having tested positive for the virus, the app then alerts those phones' owners that they may have been exposed. Experts explain that tracking is key to testing and self-quarantining yourself to avoid infecting others. But in the U.S. and the Western world, there isn't a widely-used tracking tool, mostly due to privacy concerns. South Korea and Singapore have used similar COVID-19 tracking apps, although way more privacy-invading. These apps have been key to their success in containing the disease within these two countries. Apple's and Google's system was announced on Friday and was laid out in a series of documents and white papers. To be successful, the system will need to be widely adopted. The user would need to give explicit consent. In addition, tests will need to be available for all potentially infected people –although today there is still a shortage. Privacy and civil liberties activists have warned that the apps need to be designed so governments cannot abuse them to track their citizens. President Donald Trump called the technology “very interesting,” but expressed concern that “a lot of people worry about it in terms of a person’s freedom. We’re going to take a look at that.” Apple and Google said that user privacy and security are baked into the design of their plan. This is how the system works, according to Google: To help public health officials slow the spread of #COVID19, Google & @Apple are working on a contact tracing approach designed with strong controls and protections for user privacy. @tim_cook and I are committed to working together on these efforts.https://t.co/T0j88YBcFu — Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) April 10, 2020 Contact tracing can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and can be done without compromising user privacy. We’re working with @sundarpichai & @Google to help health officials harness Bluetooth technology in a way that also respects transparency & consent. https://t.co/94XlbmaGZV — Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 10, 2020 • The Verge: Apple and Google are building a coronavirus tracking system into iOS and Android • AP: Apple, Google to harness phones for virus infection tracking

LabXchange, Harvard's Science Platform, Provides a Free Tool to Create Online Classes and Pathways

LabXchange.org, the Open edX-based platform created by Harvard University and Amgen Foundation, is providing a free tool for educators to create online and hybrid classes and pathways with science content. The platform lets instructors select vetted content from Harvard, OpenStax, Khan Academy and other sources, remix it with private materials, build collaboration and share ideas with a small group of learners –with a maximum of 100 users. "Due to economic and geographic limitations, millions of students worldwide lack opportunities to engage meaningfully in the scientific process, which has led to significant gaps in scientific literacy and in diversity across scientific fields," explained Robert Lue, Director at the platform. LabXchange is essentially designed to support educators in creating customized learning experiences. The content-type offered on the LabXchange library includes video, text, image, simulation, assignment, pathway, narrative, assessment, and cluster. Some animations allow learners to learn by doing in the digital space. Subject areas include Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Science & Society, Physics, Health Science, Global Health, Prepare For Careers, Prepare For College, Scientific Process, Online Learning, Professional Development, and Prepare for Graduate School. An interesting pathway content available at the LabXchange platform is "Coronavirus: From Bats to Humans to Pandemic". Soon, teachers will be able to track students' progress and individually contact learners. LabXchange is here to support you with moving your science classes online. Our newest resource, Remote Learning with LabXchange, is a collection of guides, tutorials, and demos for a variety of teaching and learning needs. Always open, and always free. https://t.co/ifYRoBXhR7 pic.twitter.com/ARUZ9oUyXf — LabXchange (@LabXchange) March 14, 2020 This video below explains the main features:   These two tutorials recently posted, shows how to create a class and a pathway at LabXchange.   • More stories about LabXchange at IBL News

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Princeton, Berkeley, and Rice Switch to Remote Classes to Head Off the Spread of the Virus

Princeton, Berkeley, Rice, Fordham, Yeshiva, Hofstra, and Sacred Heart universities joined Columbia and Barnard College this Monday on the announcement that they were suspending in-person classes and teaching remotely, in order to head off the spread of the coronavirus. The city of Scarsdale in New York also announced it was closing its public schools for the week after a teacher tested positive for the virus. Last week, the universities of Washington, Seattle, and Stanford shifted entirely to virtual courses. With New York under a declared state of emergency and with over 100 people testing positive, Yeshiva University in Manhattan and Hofstra University in Long Island communicated that classes were canceled for the week. A student and two faculty members at Yeshiva tested positive for the virus last week, and Hofstra said that a student had started showing symptoms after attending a conference; that test result is pending. Columbia said a university community member was quarantined for exposure to the new coronavirus. Meanwhile, Princeton University said in a statement that new policies would be in place through Sunday, April 5. "While much remains unknown about COVID-19’s epidemiology and impact, our medical advisers tell us that we should proceed on the assumption that the virus will spread more broadly and eventually reach our campus," wrote Chris Eisgruber, President of Princeton University. In Houston, Rice University canceled in-person classes for the rest of the week after staff member tested positive for the virus. It also banned meetings of more than 100 people until May. The University of California, Berkeley, became the fourth major U.S. university to suspend classes for an extended period of time due to concerns over COVID-19. Chancellor Carol Christ said in a message that the school will move all lecture courses and seminars to Zoom and other online tools starting today Tuesday and through spring break, which ends March 29. Courses that have to meet in person—such as labs, performing arts and physical education classes—will continue to meet as scheduled. Also yesterday, the American Council on Education called off its annual conference, originally scheduled for March 14 to 16 in San Diego, Calif0rnia. The coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan, Chine, has killed so far over 4,000 people and infected more than 114,000. At least 875 people have died outside mainland China. The United States has reported over 700 cases and 26 deaths: 22 in Washington state, two in Florida, and two in California. The World Health Organization considers the outbreak an international public health emergency.   • Johns Hopkins University's dashboard tracking the disease in real-time  

Columbia University Cancels Classes After a School Member Is Put Under Quarantine

Columbia University in New York announced yesterday all classes had been canceled Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 after a school member was exposed to the Coronavirus and is now under quarantine. “From Wednesday until the start of Spring Break on Friday, classes will be taught remotely,” said president Lee C. Bollinger in a message sent to the university community. "We do not have a confirmed case of the virus on campus. This action is intended to prevent the virus from spreading," Bollinger explained. The closure came as the city's mayor Bill de Blasio announced the 13th confirmed case in NYC and more than 105 people tested positive statewide. Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Saturday. Columbia University’s decision followed a similar decision made by a number of schools—most notably Stanford, University of Washington and Seattle University—to cancel in-person classes. Resource: • Columbia Spectator: Columbia temporarily cancels class, quarantines affiliate after exposure to COVID-19 Universities Adopt Emergency Plans In this context, universities have activated serious measures against the Coronavirus at their campuses. Many of them created specific planning teams to fight the spread of the disease, following the CDC’s and local health agencies’ recommendations. School officials sent emails and messages to their communities this weekend. For example, Sacred Heart University (SHU) in Connecticut set a pattern of precautions, along with a thematic website, that could inspire other institutions. This message was sent to the SHU community this Sunday: "Dear students, faculty, and staff, Welcome back from break. In today’s update, we want to tell you about the precautions we have taken—and will continue to take—to protect the University community from the coronavirus. These are precautions recommended by the CDC and local health agencies: Bathrooms in all University housing have been disinfected in anticipation of students’ return Touchpoints (doorknobs, faucets, flushers, etc.) will be disinfected daily with more frequent cleaning and sanitizing of public/common restrooms Extra attention is also being paid to athletic areas because of the high traffic flow Gym equipment is disinfected daily and wiped down with Clorox wipes Hand soap is available in all restrooms and hand sanitizer can be found throughout the gym area Clorox disinfecting wipes are also available throughout the gym area. These kill 99.9% of all bacteria in 10 seconds In addition, extra protocols will be in place in dining halls Food services personnel will go above and beyond in following CDC hygiene guidelines Hand sanitizers will be available to workers at all food preparation sites Touchpoints (doorknobs, horizontal services, tables & chairs, condiment dispensers, drink dispensers, etc.) will be cleaned often In addition to other locations on campus, portable sanitizer stations will available for students, faculty, and staff in the dining halls We ask that you practice good food hygiene—don’t touch food with your hands (a piece of fruit, for example) and then put it back The cleaning staff is available 24/7 to respond to any emergencies anywhere. Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., call 203-371-7870. Nights and weekend, students should report issues to their RHD to submit an off-hours MOP request We are also asking that all students and employees do their part by following the hygiene guidelines set forth by the CDC: Avoid close contact with people who are sick Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth Stay home when you are sick Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes We are in regular contact with our cleaning contractors and food services staff to ensure that CDC guidelines are being followed in all areas of the University. More information can be found on the coronavirus page on the SHU website. In particular, you may want to check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on that page. We want you all to have a great finish to the spring semester, while at the same time taking the necessary precautions to keep us all healthy and safe."   Beyond these measures, several media outlets paid attention to the pressing questions around the virus. This New York Times' article was one of the most remarkable.

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Saturday, November 22, 2025

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Saturday, November 22, 2025

AI is transforming the education technology landscape as more teachers adopt intelligent tools, driving forward and adaptive learning experiences.

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