UN chief: COVID-19 devastating to education

The United Nations chief says the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the largest disruption of education in history, with schools closed in more than 160 countries in mid-July, affecting over 1 billion students. In addition, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at least 40 million children worldwide have missed out on education "in their critical preschool year."  UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres  said "We are at a defining moment for the world's children and young people. The decisions that governments and partners take now will have lasting impact on hundreds of millions of young people, and on the development prospects of countries for decades to come."

Guterres said increasing financing for education must be given priority.