The Impact of COVID-19 on the Realisation of Children’s Right to Education in Light of the 4IR in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the largest disruption in fulfilling the right to education, since the coming into force of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACWRC/the Charter). Among other human rights treaties, Zimbabwe ratified the ACRWC in February 1995. Since then, the government has enacted laws and further established institutions and programmes to enable the implementation of the child’s right to education. Given Zimbabwe’s current developmental and economic challenges, the implementation of the right to education has not been perfect. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 interrupted the process of implementation and completely overhauled traditional methods of education. The pandemic increased digital transformation in the education sector, as several Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) tools were unleashed in primary and secondary education settings. Educational activities switched to the digital environment to ensure continuity in learning. This article seeks to evaluate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the realisation of the right to education in the context of the growing need to curb the spread of COVID-19 and to adapt to the 4IR and blended learning.