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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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    Cited by:

    1. Banerjee, Rakesh & Bharati, Tushar, 2025. "Learning disruptions and academic outcomes," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    2. 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.
    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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    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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