The crisis caused by the pandemic, however, has disrupted learning for thousands of children, young people and adults, on an unprecedented scale. In fact, the United Nations estimates that:
773 million adults and young people lack basic literacy skills;
617 million children and adolescents do not reach the minimum levels of proficiency in reading and mathematics.
During the initial phase of the pandemic, schools were closed, disrupting the education of 62.3% of the world's student population of 1.09 billion.
The Salesian missionaries focus their educational efforts on literacy and on a series of other initiatives aimed at acquiring fundamental skills. During the pandemic, the Salesians worked to address educational challenges, facing the many changes and adapting to provide educational lessons both remotely and in person.
