Guterres: Education is witnessing a severe crisis worldwide

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Monday that education around the world is in severe crisis, while calling on the Afghan Taliban to allow girls access to free education in Afghanistan.

Guterres' warning comes as the world commemorates the closure of girls' schools in Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of power last year.

In his speech at the United Nations Education Summit in New York, Guterres stressed that education around the world is going through a severe crisis, saying that "70% of ten-year-olds in poor countries cannot read a simple text."

He continued, by saying: "The Corona pandemic has had devastating repercussions on education, in addition to dealing a severe blow to the progress process."

"Even in developed countries, the unequal treatment of students has become more entrenched rather than reduced," he added.

For her part, Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, warned of a "global emergency in the education sector".

She noted that war, conflict, drought and floods have prevented children from continuing in school in many places around the world, and she also blamed the Taliban.

It should be noted that Malala, who campaigned for girls' education, survived an assassination attempt in October 2012 after Taliban fighters stopped her school bus in northern Pakistan.

"If you are serious about creating a safe and sustainable future for girls, then be serious about the education system," she said.

"Don't make low, low, short-term pledges, but commit to supporting the right to complete education and closing the funding gap all at once and for all," she added.

Addressing the leaders, Malala said, "How many generations are you willing to sacrifice? How long are you going to make us wait for what you promised?"

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