Source: Educational International published 21 September 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an enormous toll on education. Beyond school closures and lost learning, we have lost countless educators.
In the Indian province of Uttar Pradesh more than 1,600 teachers died of COVID-19. That is just one province in one country. In South Africa more than 1,650 teachers died of COVID-19 between March 2020 and February 2021.
In the United States, as of September 17, 2021, at least 1,116 active and retired K-12 educators and personnel have died of COVID-19. In Paraguay, a country with fewer people than Paris, more than 300 teachers have died.
The death of one educator is a tragedy for their family, students, and community. The death of so many educators around the world has an absolutely devastating impact on the profession and education as a whole.
Teacher memorial
In the lead up to this year’s World Teachers’ Day – October 5th, 2021 – Education International has launched a memorial website to honour and remember the
colleagues we have lost - www.teachercovidmemorial.org
Please use the website to share the stories of friends, colleagues, mentors who have passed away during the pandemic.
Tribute event
This World Teachers’ Day, Education International will host a virtual, global tribute event in their honour. On October 5th we will come together to remember and honour those we lost and who are
forever present in our minds. We will celebrate their life’s work, their dedication to their students, colleagues, and their profession and we will commit ourselves to taking their mission forward.