Youth from 11 countries in Europe and Central Asia joined a regional consultation on the Impact of Covid-19 on education and learning. COVID-19 restrictions adopted by several governments in the region resulted in closures of schools and drastically changed classrooms - from face-to-face communication into distance learning. This brought new challenges for the digital skills of students and teachers. Some had trouble learning, others loved it. Some had access to computers to learn at home and others not, some got help from their teachers and parents – others did not. The impact on the right to education of young people, particularly those who did not have a proper learning environment at home, is huge. The virtual consultation organised by UNICEF and GEYC explored more in detail these issues.
Write one word that describes your learning experience during the pandemic
Key insights from the discussion:
- The participants described the experience of distance learning as a very difficult one. They acknowledged some of the challenges of distance learning, such as: not having a proper learning environment; classes were not adapted to the online environment, both teachers and students were not used with blended learning (mix of online learning and offline interaction), having a significantly higher number of materials to study and homework to do;
- The participants believed that time management and digital skills are key skills that would have been useful during the pandemic;
- The school of the future should take into better account the learning needs of students, take advantage of multimedia tools, be innovative, and be connected with reality.
We would like the following participants for their active engagement and great insights:
- Ana Bukhrashvili from Georgia
- Anda-Giulia Andrișca from Romania, Consiliul Județean al Elevilor Bihor, member of the Romanian Childrens’ Board
- Borna Turalija from Croatia
- Daria Dogaru from Romania, GEYC
- Davit Chankseliani from Georgia, Helping Hand
- Dominik Budimir from Croatia, UNICEF Croatia
- Elta Bajrami from Kosovo, UNICEF Youth Reference Group
- Kamila Amantaeva from Kazakhstan
- Karla Mak from Croatia
- Katsiaryna Nekrashevich from Belarus
- Mahammad Kekalov from Azerbaijan, UNYAC
- Alexia Popescu from Romania, GEYC, LEO Cozia
- Rustam Karimov from Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan UReport
- Sarvinoz Anvarbekova from Uzbekistan, Youth Advisory Board of UN Uzbekistan
- Sebihe Yağmur Dinç from Turkey, Pi Youth Association
- Shakhodat Sadullaeva from Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan UReport
- Timofii Bilokoz from Ukraine, Kirovograd's Region Parliament of Children
- Vasil Vantchev from Bulgaria, NYF - National Youth Forum
- Viktoria Kravets from Ukraine, Lviv Children Council
We would also like to acknowledge the efforts and support of the UNICEF Country Offices in ECA for identifying and mobilizing the youth delegates.
About the consultations
GEYC is partnering with the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) to conduct a series of youth consultations in the context of the Covid-19 crisis.
Four (4) online consultations took place on the 7th and 9th of July. During these consultations, young people from the Europe and Central Asia region were invited to share their views on issues of education, employment, mobility, participation, youth experiences and sentiments related to Covid19, and how to build back better with young people.
The consultations are being conducted in the context of a joint project by the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (UNICEF ECARO) and the European Training Foundation (ETF), aimed at understanding the impact of Covid-19 on the lives of young people in Europe and Central Asia Region, as well as identifying ways in which young people can be engaged to build resilient, sustainable and digital economies and societies in the post-COVID-19 scenario.