One Of The World's Longest School Closures Threatening To Leave Deep Scars

A steady flow of graduates is essential to Philippines' push to establish itself as an outsourcing center for international corporations.

On Aug. 22, schools in the Philippines will finally reopen their doors to students after two and a half years - one of the longest pandemic-induced school closures in the world.

As well as devastating the individual prospects of countless children, the extended hiatus is threatening to leave long-term scars on an economy historically reliant on sending high-skilled workers abroad.

Protracted school closures worsen basic literacy standards and will likely reduce the productivity and earnings of children once they enter the workforce, the World Bank warned in a recent report.

About 10% of Filipinos work abroad and the economy is dependent on remittances sent back by its overseas nurses, teachers and engineers, among other workers. A steady flow of graduates is also essential to the country's push to establish itself as an outsourcing center for international corporations and to increasing the number of decent jobs closer to home.