The COVID-19 Pandemic, its Consequences, and the Recovery: Implementation of Disaster Education and Management is Key to the Schooling of Children with Disabilities

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has eroded gains towards Kenya Vision 2030’s poverty eradication goal by denying Kenyan children and youth with disabilities access to (quality) education. Situational analysis on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on education of primary and secondary school-age individuals from March 2020 to December 2020 reveal that the education opportunities for learners with disabilities remained unpredictable as the disease ravaged communities to the end of the year.  Learners with disabilities fell behind academically after school closure and COVID-19 related biases predisposed them to academic failure and failed adulthood. Then, the implementation of disaster education and recovery plans are overdue and must intentionally target education of children and youth with disabilities.