That’s the conclusion reached by a new international scientific study that analyzed data from many countries and estimates that, of all subjects, the problem is most serious in mathematics.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, students experienced delays in the learning process, a loss of knowledge and skills corresponding to at least 35% – i.e. more than a third – of a school year.
That’s the conclusion reached by a new international scientific study that analyzed data from many countries and estimates that, of all subjects, the problem is most serious in mathematics.
The researchers, led by Bastian Betthauser of Sciences Po in Paris, who published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 42 studies from March 2020 to August 2022. from 15 countries (Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Britain and USA).
The study found that learning slowed amid the pandemic and that learning deficits persisted at least until mid-2022, meaning they had lasted at least two and a half years.
Students’ lag was greater in mathematics than in language.
It also found that pre-existing learning disparities between students, especially those from richer and poorer families, were exacerbated by the lockdowns and the pandemic.
The researchers emphasize that although learning deficits appeared very early during the pandemic, it is remarkable that they did not close, but instead in some cases widened, over time.
That is why they point to the need to take initiatives to close these learning gaps and not perpetuate them.
This, among other things, as they say, means additional school support for the children who lost the most learning ground during the pandemic.
The new study estimates that 95% of students worldwide – that’s almost all – were negatively affected by forced school closures and other restrictive measures.
The loss of instructional hours, mandatory hybrid or distance learning, limited face-to-face learning, but also reduced physical exercise, as well as the financial uncertainty of many families, which particularly affected children from lower income families, worked negatively for the learning.
RES-EMP
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
