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Learning losses from school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic for Thai kindergartners

Author

Listed:
  • Kilenthong, Weerachart T.
  • Boonsanong, Khanista
  • Duangchaiyoosook, Sartja
  • Jantorn, Wasinee
  • Khruapradit, Varunee

Abstract

Using a large-scale school readiness survey in Thailand, this paper presents empirical evidence of learning losses from school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic for kindergartners. Overall results indicate that school closure during the outbreak of COVID-19 causes significant learning losses in cognitive skills, especially in mathematics and working memory. The negative impact is heterogeneous across several dimensions, including child gender, special needs, wealth, private tutoring, caregiver education, and parental absence. This paper also estimates daily learning gains, of which significant results confirm that going to school has significantly benefited young children, especially in receptive language, mathematics, and working memory.

Suggested Citation

  • Kilenthong, Weerachart T. & Boonsanong, Khanista & Duangchaiyoosook, Sartja & Jantorn, Wasinee & Khruapradit, Varunee, 2023. "Learning losses from school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic for Thai kindergartners," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:96:y:2023:i:c:s0272775723001024
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2023.102455
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    4. Flavio Cunha & James J. Heckman, 2008. "Formulating, Identifying and Estimating the Technology of Cognitive and Noncognitive Skill Formation," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 43(4).
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    7. NgỌc Tãš T. Ä Inh & Weerachart T. Kilenthong, 2021. "Do Parental Absence and Children’s Gender Affect Early Childhood Investment? Evidence from Rural Thailand," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 66(05), pages 1443-1468, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Warabud Suppalarkbunlue & Sartja Duangchaiyoosook & Varunee Khruapradit & Weerachart Kilenthong, 2022. "Material Incentive Motivation and Working Memory Performance of Kindergartners: A Large-Scale Randomized Controlled Trial," PIER Discussion Papers 187, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research.
    2. Rakesh Banerjee & Tushar Bharati, 2025. "Learning Disruptions and Academic Outcomes," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 25-01, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    3. Weerachart Kilenthong & Sartja Duangchaiyoosook & Wasinee Jantorn & Varunee Khruapradit, 2024. "A Randomized Evaluation of an On-Site Training for Kindergarten Teachers in Rural Thailand," PIER Discussion Papers 215, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Learning losses; School closure; School readiness; Daily learning gains; COVID-19; COVID slide; Disadvantaged children; Working memory; Math; Literacy; Receptive language; Non-cognitive;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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