Education
COVID-19: 40m Children Missing Early Education—UNICEF
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has said at least 40 million children worldwide have missed out on early childhood education in their critical pre-school year as COVID-19 shuttered childcare and early education facilities.
In a new research brief published on Wednesday, the agency looked at the state of childcare and early childhood education globally and includes an analysis of the impact of widespread COVID-19 closures of these vital family services.
According to UNICEF Executive Director, Ms Henrietta Fore, “Education disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are preventing children from getting their education off to the best possible start.
“Childcare and early childhood education build a foundation upon which every aspect of children’s development relies. The pandemic is putting that foundation under serious threat.”
The research showed that lockdowns have left many parents struggling to balance childcare and paid employment, with more burden placed on women who, on average, spend more than three times longer on care and housework than men.
UNICEF said that the closures have also exposed a deeper crisis for families of young children especially in low- and middle-income countries, many of whom were already unable to access social protection services.
It explained that childcare is essential in providing children with integrated services, affection, protection, stimulation and nutrition and, at the same time, enable them to develop social, emotional and cognitive skills.
However, before the COVID-19 pandemic, unaffordable, poor-quality or inaccessible childcare and early childhood education facilities forced many parents to leave young children in unsafe and unstimulating environments at a critical point in their development, with more than 35 million children under the age of five globally sometimes left without adult supervision.
It added that out of 166 countries, less than half provide tuition-free pre-primary programmes of at least one year, dropping to just 15 per cent among low-income countries and many young children who remain at home do not get the play and early learning support they need for healthy development.
The research showed that in 54 low- and middle-income countries, around 40 per cent of children aged between 3 and 5 years old were not receiving social-emotional and cognitive stimulation from any adult in their household.
Lack of childcare and early education options also leaves many parents, particularly mothers working in the informal sector, with no choice but to bring their young children to work, the report said.
More than 9 in 10 women in Africa and nearly 7 in 10 in Asia and the Pacific work in the informal sector and have limited to no access to any form of social protection. Many parents become trapped in this unreliable, poorly paid employment, contributing to intergenerational cycles of poverty, it added.
“Access to affordable, quality childcare and early childhood education is critical for the development of families and socially cohesive societies. UNICEF advocates for accessible, affordable and quality childcare from birth to children’s entry into the first grade of school,” it noted.
The research brief offers guidance on how governments and employers can improve their childcare and early childhood education policies including by enabling all children to access high-quality, age-appropriate, affordable and accessible childcare centres irrespective of family circumstances.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is making a global childcare crisis even worse, families need support from their governments and their employers to weather this storm and safeguard their children’s learning and development,” it stated.
By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh
An initiative, designed to foster a strategic collaboration between educational institutions from Russia and Africa, is set to bring together exceptional young professionals in the field of information technology. On 13th March 2025, the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI) hosted a large-scale roundtable discussion on “Exporting Russian IT Education” as part of the International Science Festival “Festival of Communications and Informatics Science – ComInfFest 2025”.
The event became an important platform for discussing issues of promoting Russian educational programs in the field of information technology in the international arena. The roundtable was attended by representatives of embassies of 15 foreign countries and diasporas, interested government bodies of the Russian Federation, leading IT companies, international student organizations, as well as the president of the Cameroonian diaspora in the Russian Federation and chairman of the commission for work with African diasporas of the Russian-African Club of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, Louis Gouend.
MTUCI Rector Sergey Erokhin, the roundtable moderator, emphasized the growing interest in Russian IT education students from different countries, noting the need to create favorable conditions for their successful studies, adaptation, and professional development.
Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Pavel Shevtsov emphasized the importance of creating attractive conditions for professional growth and employment of foreign students.
Louis Gouend emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between the Russian and African educational communities and the role of the Russian IT sector in developing the potential of African students. He also touched upon the issues of adaptation of international students, proposing innovative integration methods and stressed that Africa will be a huge growing market for Russian IT education by 2050.
The participants discussed issues of social and cultural adaptation, competitiveness of Russian education, and ways to overcome language barriers.
The experts further emphasized the need for active interaction with foreign partners, popularization of Russian IT education, as well as interaction between educational institutions and businesses to create practical-oriented programs. At the end of the large-scale roundtable, Louis Gouend discussed with the university management the possibility of receiving subsidies for African students studying in the preparatory course.
Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI) is a Russian university which specializes in the field of information technology, telecommunications, and information security. It currently has a total enrollment of approximately 15,000 students. In January 1992, in accordance with Order of the Government of Russia, it received the status of as a technical university and transformed into the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI).
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
An $8,000 scholarship has been launched by Prodigy Finance and the Esade Business School for women in graduate programs in a bid to promote leadership and empowerment.
The scholarship is open to women from Prodigy-supported regions, with applications accepted from March 14 to April 14, 2025.
The objective of the programme is to support the next generation of female leaders as part of the commitment of the parties to empower women, breaking down barriers, and leadership in their respective fields.
This scholarship is part of a wider initiative to increase diversity and inclusion in education and get more women into leadership positions across industries and communities.
It is for women starting their studies in the Fall of 2025, who must be from a Prodigy-supported region and attending a Prodigy-supported school.
After the closure of entries, a period of review will follow from April 15 to May 1, 2025, with the winner announced on May 2, 2025.
Applicants must complete the scholarship application within the specified timeframe and submit essay responses that assess their merit and need, the organisers said.
“At Prodigy Finance, we believe education can transform lives. This Women’s Day, we are pleased to be partnering with ESADE to support women from around the world.
“By backing their education, we are not only making learning more accessible but also enabling them to make a lasting impact in the business world,” the Global Chief Business Officer at Prodigy Finance, Ms Sonal Kapoor, said.
Prodigy Finance said it is dedicated to making quality education accessible. Known for its no-cosigner, collateral-free loans, the company offers student loan amounts up to the cost of attendance limits set by the schools.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An educational grant programme will soon be launched by a fast-rising support group, the Young Professionals for Tinubu (YP4T).
The scheme is to support at least 100 Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) students across Nigeria with funds for their final certificate examinations.
This initiative seeks to remove financial barriers for promising students, ensuring they have the opportunity to complete their education and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s growth.
“Education is the foundation upon which strong nations are built. By supporting 100 young Nigerians in their final year of secondary school, we are not only investing in their future but in the future of the country itself.
“This grant represents an opportunity for these students to complete a critical stage of their education, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s progress.
“We believe that empowering young minds today will yield leaders who drive innovation, governance, and prosperity tomorrow,” the Regional Director for YP4T, Mr Alex Oware, stated.
Recently, in a continued effort to empower young Nigerians as active participants in the nation’s development, YP4T empowered about 1,200 young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills needed to take on active roles in shaping Nigeria’s future.
The programme was held under the Civic Participation Workshop and featured dynamic and interactive sessions on policy making and advocacy, digital citizenship and social media activism, leadership and public speaking, and understanding government and the constitution.
Participants had the opportunity to engage with experienced facilitators, ask critical questions about how to better integrate into political and civic spaces at both local and national levels, and receive practical guidance on how to make meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s development.
A resounding theme that emerged throughout the event was the growing number of young Nigerians approaching voting age, with speakers and facilitators emphasizing the urgent need for them to ensure they are registered to vote.
The discussions reinforced the principle that active civic engagement begins with exercising the fundamental right to vote, ensuring that young voices are represented in shaping the country’s future.
Mr Oware engaged the Personal Assistant to the President on General Duties, Mr Wale Fadare, in a conversation about what true nation-building requires from young Nigerians.
“True transformation is a collective effort. Young Nigerians have the energy and vision to drive change, and it is vital that we all work together to build a stronger, more resilient nation.
“A crucial part of this is making sure that more young people take their civic responsibilities seriously, from understanding governance to ensuring they are registered to vote,” the President’s aide said.
The event marks a significant moment for YP4T, which recently surpassed 3,000 registered young professionals dedicated to supporting and advancing the policies of President Tinubu.
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