Importance of keeping schools open

MALAYSIA, like countries all over the world, is in the midst of a global education crisis. The Covid-19 pandemic has put one billion children out of school. To about 400 million children with no access to free school meals, this means missing out on their only decent meal of the day. Children living in abusive households have now lost the safe havens provided by their teachers and friends at school.

Schools are an integral component of local communities. Reopening schools and keeping them open today is one of our greatest challenges as advocates of child education, health and welfare.