Lonta Doris Writes: Coronavirus has caused every economy and education globally

Who and which economy can we say is an exception to the effects that the novel coronavirus poses? No one is an exception, literates are crying, illiterates are crying, the poor, rich, leaders, subordinates, teachers, students, everyone is crying because the virus is no respecter of persons. Sleeping and waking up overnight to find such a traumatic situation, but nothing can be done, all that can be done is to pray and stick to the precautionary measures by WHO.

This strange overnight virus has affected mankind in almost every aspect of life.

Let’s begin by looking at our educational sector. Schools have been closed down leaving academic activities hanging. Though most schools are trying to move to teach and learning online, are all students going to have access to that? This is because most students live in remote communities where they have no access to electricity, some with poor or no internet access, others too learn better in the classroom where they have eye contact with the teacher and so learning online will be a big challenge to them.

The next area to look at is the agricultural sector. Farmers are not an exception of a government decision and so are affected by the lockdown initiated by the president. Farmers in the affected areas can no longer go to work on their farms, and this will lead to an increase in prices of foodstuff at the market as less foodstuff will be available. The lockdown also restricts movement hence preventing farmers from transporting their produce to the markets for sale and thus also leading to an increase in prices of foodstuff.

Continuing with is the effect the virus has on employment and jobs. Most employees have been laid off by their employers because of the ban on public gathering. People who sell by the roadside at the affected areas are compelled to stay at home because of the virus, the question is, how are they going to feed themselves and their families as that are the only the source of their income.

Also, food sellers and shop keepers on various campuses are compelled to stay at home because schools have been closed. Traders who travel overseas to bring goods for sale can no longer do so because most countries have been closed their borders. All these are challenges that people are currently battling with.

Finally, the economy is not an exception to the pandemic’s effect. There is a decline in prices of cocoa as well as crude oil which are the source of revenue for the country. The government has to spend a lot on measures to prevent the spread of the virus and in treating the infected. All these lead to retardation of progress as all developmental projects come to a standstill.

Let’s all have hope and pray, for this nightmare will soon pass just as it sneaked in and not also forgetting to hold tight to the precautionary measures.

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By: Doris Lonta