Chicago, August 7 (RHC)-- In the U.S. state of Illinois, the Chicago Public School system has canceled in-person classes in September and will begin the new school year entirely by remote learning.  

The school district had been planning to bring most students back two days a week, but canceled those plans after the Chicago Teachers Union announced its members would vote to authorize a strike over coronavirus safety measures.

In related news, at the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the world faces a “generational catastrophe” because of school closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Secretary-General António Guterres: “In mid-July, schools were closed in more than 160 countries, affecting over one billion students.  At least 40 million children worldwide have missed out on education in their critical preschool year.  And parents, especially women, have been forced to assume heavy care burdens in the home.”

Guterres called on countries to bring COVID-19 under control as quickly as possible so that schools can reopen safely.