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The Learning Crisis: Three Years After Covid-19

Author

Listed:
  • Gajderowicz, Tomasz
  • Jakubowski, Maciej
  • Kennedy, Alec
  • Christrup Kjeldsen, Christian
  • Patrinos, Harry Anthony
  • Strietholt, Rolf

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruptions to education, with school closures affecting over one billion children. These closures, aimed at reducing virus transmission, resulted in significant learning losses, particularly in mathematics and science. Using data from TIMSS 2023, which assesses fourth and eighth-grade achievements across 71 education systems, this study analyzes the impact of school closure duration on learning outcomes. Mixed-effect models estimate deviations from pre-pandemic trends, adjusting for demographic factors. Results show a global average decline of 0.11 standard deviations (SD) in student achievement, with longer closures linked to more severe losses. The effects on low performers, girls, and linguistic minorities show effect sizes up to 0.22 SD. These findings highlight the lasting impact of school closures and emphasize the need for targeted recovery strategies and international cooperation to promote equitable educational outcomes post-pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Gajderowicz, Tomasz & Jakubowski, Maciej & Kennedy, Alec & Christrup Kjeldsen, Christian & Patrinos, Harry Anthony & Strietholt, Rolf, 2024. "The Learning Crisis: Three Years After Covid-19," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1543, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:glodps:1543
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Pandemics; human capital; returns to education; labor markets; COVID-19;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • J17 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Value of Life; Foregone Income
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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