The problem with remote schooling
Remote schooling via online classes may have been the only option during pandemic-induced lockdowns but the method is in no way comparable to in-person learning, reveals a new study conducted by a US-based research firm.
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), “highly significant learning losses” were found among students who did not access in-person learning. NBER’s findings are based on scores from standardised tests administered to American students last spring.
“Overall, our data suggest significant learning losses as measured by state assessments as a result of the pandemic, and larger losses in districts with less access to in-person learning. From a policy standpoint, our results highlight the non-health implications of the pandemic, which may be long-lasting,” the study stated. “These data also highlight the value of in-person learning and may provide a caution when considering school closures in the future,” it added.
Notably, students who continued to attend school physically also saw some decrease in scores. However, those drops were much less pronounced than they were for students whose classroom consisted of a computer screen, the NBER said.
“We find that pass rates declined (in 2020-21 academic year) compared to prior years and that these declines were larger in (US) districts with less in-person instruction,” the report said. It added that passing rates in mathematics dropped by 14.2 percentage points on an average among children who could not avail physical schooling, while the decline was smaller at 10.1 percentage points among students who attended in-person classes.
The NBER study titled ‘Pandemic schooling mode and student test scores: Evidence from US states’ underscores that the education lacuna and other non-health impacts of the pandemic could be long-lasting.
While education experts insist that in-person school is crucial to effective teaching and learning, school authorities feel it’s better to err on the side of caution by keeping classrooms shut till the virus spread ebbs.
Psychologists also point out that if schooling is done in the virtual mode for a longer period of time, it could trigger emotional as well as social harms in students.
It is too early to fathom the full impact on the pandemic on student learning. More so, because many schools have abandoned the year-end assessment of students. According to a recent McKinsey survey, students were found to be behind their usual academic milestones by an average of six months. Also, the highest learning loss was reported among young children (KG till 3rd standard).
What is the main takeaway from all this? That the learning loss due to lack of access to regular schooling is substantial and can have long-term effects on students. Even though strong academic credentials are only one among the many factors that help one succeed in life, strong formal schooling can help young people achieve higher earnings and better life quality of life as they progress.
In this context, how seriously schools look at this is extremely critical as the sincerity with which they deploy solutions to help students bridge the learning gap will have a direct impact on their future.
What is your school doing to address this?