There was already a learning gap before the pandemic, with disadvantaged and marginalized children lagging far behind in terms of educational achievement.

Since the onset of COVID-19, which has seen millions of children affected by school closures, it has become a gulf, and by some estimates, around 70 per cent of 10-year-olds can’t read a simple piece of text.

Richard Jenkins, the Director of Education at UN children’s agency, UNICEF, spoke to Conor Lennon from UN News ahead of the International Day of Education, marked on 24 January, and began by explaining the severity of the COVID effect on children’s schooling.