Some aspects of ensuring the rights of children to education in case of a pandemic

Nargiza Dusmukhamedova

Scientific research results in pandemic conditions (COVID-19)

28

process of mutation is accelerated under the influence of negative selection.
This increases gene diversity.

Thus, not only the reserve but also the newly emerging genes remain

the source for the blocks of both categories.

3.

ÐÐ°ÑÑÐ¸Ð´Ð´Ð¸Ð½Ð¾Ð²Ð°

Ð¡.Ð.,

Ð¡ÑÑÑÐ½Ð½Ð¸ÐºÐ¾Ð²

Ð.Ð.

Ð¡ÑÐ°Ð½Ð¾Ð²Ð»ÐµÐ½Ð¸Ðµ

7.Daniyarov U.T. Abstract of Doctorate dissertation 2019.

Nargiza Dusmukhamedova Independent researcher of the Academy of

Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

SOME ASPECTS OF ENSURING THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN TO EDUCATION

IN CASE OF A PANDEMIC

N. Dusmukhamedova

Abstract: The article discusses some topical issues of ensuring the right

of children to education in a pandemic. The transition to a distance and
online system of continuing general secondary, secondary special and
higher education in Uzbekistan, the positive and problematic aspects of this
system, the results of studying the experience of international organizations
and foreign countries in this field are discussed.

Key words: the right to education, the impact of the pandemic on the

education system, online education, distance learning, UNICEF initiatives, a

Scientific research results in pandemic conditions (COVID-19)

29

new guide to protection against the spread of COVID-19, basic literacy,
digital education, digital technologies, e-diary system, TV lessons, video
lessons, Internet platforms.

UNESCO emphasizes that the word education includes the process of

conscious learning by individuals and groups of all social life to develop their
talents, abilities, and knowledge for the sake of national and international
well-being, a process not limited to specific activities

1

.

Education is one of the human rights and is necessary for the realization

of other human rights.

The right to education is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which mandate states
to recognize the right of children to equal education. In particular, Article
28

2

of the Convention on the Rights of the Child focuses on the right of

children to education, which requires States Parties to provide free and
compulsory primary education, access to higher education based on the
ability of every child, education and vocational training for all children to
provide access to information and materials, to promote regular school
attendance and to take measures to reduce the number of school dropouts,
to protect the dignity of the child in all matters of morality, and to promote
the education system in international solidarity.

The special resolution "Enlightenment and Religious Tolerance"

adopted at the plenary session of the UN General Assembly on December 12,
2018 was a practical manifestation of the initiative put forward by the
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev from the high
rostrum of the UN. The head of our state said: âThe main purpose of this
document is to help ensure the right to education for all, to eradicate
illiteracy and ignorance. This resolution is aimed at promoting tolerance and
mutual respect, ensuring religious freedom, protecting the rights of
believers and preventing discrimination against them.

3

â Indeed, the

purpose, the essence of the concept of the document is very important. It
fully complies with the provisions of important documents adopted within
the UN.

1

UNESCO Recommendations on Education in the Spirit of International Understanding, Cooperation,

Peace and Respect for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Article 5, section A

2

Convention on the Rights of the Child. Publication of the Children's Fund of Uzbekistan; Child rights

monitoring. Textbook / Editor-in-Chief A.H. Saidov - Tashkent: National Center for Human Rights of
the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2011. P.61

3

Speech by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 72nd Session of the United Nations

General Assembly (New York City, September 19, 2017). Xalq so'zi. September 20, 2017, â189
(6883). Page 1

Scientific research results in pandemic conditions (COVID-19)

30

However, despite political, organizational, and legal measures, 258

million children and young people did not attend school, according to
UNESCO, before the coronavirus pandemic began. At the same time, most of
those who go to school are left behind. Two-thirds of the 411 million
children in school lack basic reading and math skills

4

.

The Director-General of UNESCO stated, âEducation is the cornerstone

of the Sustainable Development Goals: by failing in education, we are
undermining the very foundations of that development

5

.â Indeed, one of the

Sustainable Development Goals set for 2030 is to provide access to wide-
scale and fair quality education, and to encourage

6

everyone to acquire

knowledge throughout all their lives. Indeed, the Sustainable Development
Goals cannot be achieved without the realization of the rights of the child.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected the education system as well as

all sectors: kindergartens, schools and higher education institutions have
been closed en masse. According to UNESCO, 1.7 billion students worldwide
today are deprived of offline education due to the suspension of classes. The
closure of universities in more than a hundred countries has forced 90
percent of the worldâs students to sit at home

7

.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has released a report on the

threats children may face in the current context. âIn the face of growing
global stagnation, there could be an additional hundreds of thousands of
child deaths worldwide in 2020,â Antonio Guterres said in a video message.
He called on families and all political leaders to protect children.

The Secretary-General noted that now almost all students are sitting at

home and they are not able to go to school. Some schools offer distance
learning, but this opportunity is not for everyone. In countries where the
internet is slow and expensive the situation is very poor, 310 million
students (almost half of all students in the world) who attend a school, see
this as an opportunity to eat every day. By the way, before the coronavirus

4

ÐÐµÐ¶Ð´ÑÐ½Ð°ÑÐ¾Ð´Ð½ÑÐ¹

Ð´ÐµÐ½Ñ

Ð¾Ð±ÑÐ°Ð·Ð¾Ð²Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ñ:

ÑÑÑÐµÑÑÐ²ÑÐµÑ

Ð½Ð°ÑÑÐ¾ÑÑÐµÐ»ÑÐ½Ð°Ñ

Ð½ÐµÐ¾Ð±ÑÐ¾Ð´Ð¸Ð¼Ð¾ÑÑÑ

5

ÐÐµÐ¶Ð´ÑÐ½Ð°ÑÐ¾Ð´Ð½ÑÐ¹

Ð´ÐµÐ½Ñ

Ð¾Ð±ÑÐ°Ð·Ð¾Ð²Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ñ:

ÑÑÑÐµÑÑÐ²ÑÐµÑ

Ð½Ð°ÑÑÐ¾ÑÑÐµÐ»ÑÐ½Ð°Ñ

Ð½ÐµÐ¾Ð±ÑÐ¾Ð´Ð¸Ð¼Ð¾ÑÑÑ

6

Consensus Reached on New Sustainable Development Agenda to be adopted by World Leaders in

September (Ð°Ð½Ð³Ð».) United Nations (2 August 2015). ÐÐ°ÑÐ° Ð¾Ð±ÑÐ°ÑÐµÐ½Ð¸Ñ 20 Ð¾ÐºÑÑÐ±ÑÑ 2015.
https://googleweblight.com/iu?=
http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2015/08/transforming-our-world-document-
adoption/

7

Has the transition to digital education been accelerated by the pandemic? Portal of Pravda Vostoka

Publication of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. April 10, 2020. https://pv.uz>
news>

Scientific research results in pandemic conditions (COVID-19)

31

pandemic, we were faced with worrying numbers about children not getting
enough to eat.

He stated that all state leaders should do everything in their power to

mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic.

The report called on the government and donors to pay more attention

to the education of all children. The document also recommends that
economic assistance be provided to low-income families and that social and
medical assistance be provided to them as much as possible

8

.

According to UNICEF, 800 million children were left out of school due to

quarantine measures introduced by many countries in April. In this regard,
school breakfasts and lunches were the only opportunity for more than 368
million children from poor families in 143 countries to eat well

9

.

In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Rwanda, the government

has recommended the closure of schools, so more than 3 million students do
not attend school. Schoolchildren there turned their attention to radio, one
of the means of mass media so that they can continue their education.

UNICEF has identified more than 100 radio scenarios around the world

that focus on basic literacy, in particular those that can be simplified to suit
Rwandaâs school curriculum. Then, the international organization worked
with partners to develop and broadcast the lessons across the country, as
well as with Rwandaâs news agency.

Before the advent of COVID-19, millions of children in Syria were out of

school and at risk. Indeed, the country has been in conflict for 10 years. The
suspension of classes as a precautionary measure in mid-March has created
additional uncertainty for millions of children.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam is of concern to all

children, regardless of their physical ability. UNICEF is supporting a video
on how to prevent COVID-19 infection as part of its efforts to help children
with hearing impairments in Vietnam, as well as enabling sign language on
most online resources.

UNICEF is also assisting the Ministry of Education in online and

independent education, as well as in professional training in the
development of training materials for exercise to improve children's health,
mental well-being, and physical strength during school closures.

No country in the world has managed to escape the COVID-19 pandemic.

By the end of March, around 95% of registered children in Latin America

8

What will happen to children in the context of the global economic recession caused by the

coronavirus?

https://bit.ly/2yvk5Js;

http://uza.uz/oz/world/koronavirus-oqibatidagi-global-

iqtisodiy-turgunlik-sharoitida-21.02.20 20

9

ÑÐ´Ð°Ñ. 01 ÐÑÐ½Ñ 2020 Ð³. https://iz.ru>

Scientific research results in pandemic conditions (COVID-19)

32

and the Caribbean - 150 million children - were temporarily out of school
due to COVID-19.

To help children, UNICEF has launched the Learning at Home initiative,

which offers new fun activities every day for parents, ranging from puzzles
that can be shared with others to searching for treasures, creative little
spider toys

10

.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,

UNICEF and the World Health Organization have released a new manual on
protecting children and schools from the spread of COVID-19. This guide
contains a list of important considerations and practical control questions
to ensure the safety of schools. The manual also includes recommendations
to national and local authorities on how to adapt the emergency response
plan to the conditions of educational institutions and how to implement
these plans.

The Guidelines for School Closures contain recommendations for

mitigating the negative consequences of school closures for education and
the well-being of children. This means that there are well-thought-out plans
to ensure continuing education through various options of distance learning,
such as the strategy of online learning and radioing of learning content, as
well as the right of all children to access basic services.

In order for schools to continue their activities, the manual provides the

following recommendations in order to protect children and their families
and to obtain the information they need:

- Provide children with information on how to protect themselves;
- Promotion of effective methods of hand washing and hygiene, as well

as the provision of hygienic items;

- Cleaning and disinfection of school buildings, especially water supply

and sanitation facilities;

- Increase the speed of air flow and ventilation.
During the outbreak of the Ebola virus in 2014-2016, school safety

guidelines implemented in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone helped prevent
the spread of the virus in schools.

UNICEF continues to work with schools that provide comprehensive

support to pupils through distance learning, helping children to avoid
discrimination by washing their hands and protecting themselves and their
families, helping them stay mentally healthy, and encouraging pupils to be
friendly with each other. It urges to provide vital information on how to
avoid stereotypes through avoiding discussions on the spread of virus.

10

ÐÐ±ÑÑÐµÐ½Ð¸Ðµ

Ð´ÐµÑÐµÐ¹

Ð²ÑÐµÐ³Ð¾

Ð¼Ð¸ÑÐ°

ÑÐµÑÐµÐ·

COVID-19.

20

Ð°Ð¿ÑÐµÐ»Ñ,

2020

Ð³.

https://www.unisef.org/coronavirus/keeping-worlds-children-learning-through-covid-19

Scientific research results in pandemic conditions (COVID-19)

33

The new guide includes a list of useful tips and control questions for

parents and guardians, as well as children and pupils

11

.

According to the data, today only 60 percent of the countries that have

closed educational institutions due to the pandemic have switched to full
digital education. While some international experts stress the impossibility
of a full transition to online education, the process should be seen as a way
out of a problematic situation, otherwise the quality of education will
decline, while others acknowledge that a new era for modern education has
begun. Intellectuals in some countries, on the other hand, are pushing for the
provision of distance education. According to Internet sources, only 95
percent of students in about 10 countries have a computer. In Indonesia, 34
percent of young people have access to the Internet. In other countries, the
figure is much lower. This, as some experts predict, could lead to a decline
in the quality of education.

The current pandemic situation has once again proved the importance

of digital technologies in our country.

It is known that at the initiative of the head of our state, this year has

been declared Â«The Year of Science, Enlightenment and Development of the
Digital EconomyÂ». In the Petition of the President to the Oliy Majlis

12

, the

active transition to the digital economy was identified as one of the priorities
for the next 5 years. It is clear that education, public services, public
administration, trade and services are all linked to the digital economy.

Following the spread of the pandemic in the world, the necessary

measures have been taken in our country to ensure the continuity of the
educational process, such as the economy, health care. The resolution

13

of

the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Â«On measures for the
widespread introduction of digital technologies in TashkentÂ» provides
gradual launch of "Electronic Diary" in all secondary schools in the capital
and the formation of a database for more than 400,000 pupils. The task of
introducing electronic services for the system saves teachers from
unnecessary paperwork, filling out many reports manuscripts, etc., saving
their time and helping them focus more on pupils. As a result, children learn
the material better, teachers have more time to check written homework
assignments, parents can call teachers, and the volume of various household
problems is reduced.

According to world experts, the strict quarantine rules introduced due

to the pandemic have created new opportunities for education, all

11

https://www.unisef.org/Uzbekistan/%D0%BA

12

Mirziyoyev Sh.M. Petition of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the

Oliy Majlis. // Ishonch, January 25, 2020.

13

Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On measures for the widespread

introduction of digital technologies in Tashkent." PQ-4642; 17.03.2020. https://www.lex.uz> docs.

Scientific research results in pandemic conditions (COVID-19)

34

educational institutions around the world have moved to a new format and
adopted the experience of distance learning en masse. In particular, a single
University platform of universities has been launched in Armenia, which
allows distance learning during quarantine. Five apps for learning and doing
business in the UAE global network: Google Hangouts Meet, Cisco Webex,
Avaya Spaces, Blue Jeans and Slask have been launched continuously. In
Cyprus, the Ministry of Education and Science, through the Pedagogical
Institute, has organized expedited teacher training for distance learning. The
use of AR-augmented reality technology in Russian universities (âÐÑÐµÐ¼Ñâ
news program on channel âÐÐµÑÐ²ÑÐ¹ ÐºÐ°Ð½Ð°Ð»â) has become an innovation in
education in 2020.

In Uzbekistan, working on the Internet platform Zoom, Telegram has

provided unprecedented opportunities. Not only the teacher but also the
student gained new skills.

According to an article on the World Bank's website entitled

"Uzbekistan: A Timely Response to School Closure," the Uzbek government
has decided to close all schools with the first case of the disease to prevent
the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Two days later, the Ministry of Public
Education announced an unprecedented plan to introduce distance learning
for 6.1 million students during quarantine. They acknowledge that the
introduction of TV lessons in a country with limited Internet resources is a
fitting response to the period when traditional teaching methods have been
suspended. After all, digital broadcasting is transmitted throughout the
country, and also does not require additional costs and new infrastructure
solutions from the consumer. The article notes that more than 350 video
lessons in Uzbek, Russian and sign languages have been broadcast on
national TV channels. In addition, such materials were posted on YouTube
and Mover.uz video hosting sites, as well as the ministry's social networking
platforms.

According to the diplomatic mission of our country in Washington, the

provision of free access to internal electronic resources of the Ministry of
Public Education by Internet service providers and GCM mobile operators is
welcomed by the population. This, in turn, significantly increases the level
of online learning for all pupils with technical capabilities

14

.

However, while distance and online education around the world has

served to provide certain courses and skills, a number of challenges have
been identified in the organization of this type of education, including:

14

World Bank: Uzbekistan has been able to quickly adapt its education system to pandemic

conditions. April 27, 2020. Xalq so'zi. Online / xs.uz> post>; Nodira Meliboyeva, Harry A. Patrinos,
Janseen Teixeira / April 24, 2020/ blogs.worldbank.org/europeandcentralasia/Uzbekistan-timely-
response-learning-during-school-closures

Scientific research results in pandemic conditions (COVID-19)

35

First, the effectiveness of communication in the learning process is low

due to the fact that distance learning differs from live learning in the
classroom;

Second, the lack of digital literacy in teachers and students for the use of

Internet technologies;

Third, low internet speeds;
Fourth, in some countries there is little or no access to the Internet for

the majority of the population;

Fifth, the lack of technical means (computers, laptops, gadgets) for

distance learning in the majority of learners has not only negatively affected
the quality of education, technical failures and other factors have led to
interruptions in the learning process.

In Uzbekistan, a modular system of teaching on the platforms of higher

education institutions has been formed, which includes electronic resources
for all subjects. However, despite the fact that this system was introduced
several years ago, for the first time in the history of our country, there were
problems and difficulties in the introduction of emergency distance
learning.

In general, the changes observed due to the pandemic require the

creative solution of existing problems. New solutions in education are
bringing new innovations to the field.

Nevertheless, Uzbekistan was able to respond quickly and creatively to

emergencies. This shows that the leadership of the republic is achieving the
right to education of the population even during the pandemic. In ensuring
the right of all children to education in our country, not only educational
institutions in the system of state bodies, non-governmental non-profit
organizations, but also parents have an equal responsibility.

Some aspects of ensuring the rights of children to education in case of a pandemic

Ключевые слова:

Аннотация