Economic growth could be held back for up to four decades because of the impact of lockdowns on children’s education, according to a major report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The report states that test scores showed an unprecedented drop in reading and math standards between 2018 and 2022, with the decline potentially having a persisting negative impact on productivity levels over the next 30-40 years.
The OECD’s interim Economic Outlook report highlights that pupils from poorer households without access to online learning were most likely to have been affected. The findings also indicate that improvements in productivity, which are crucial for economic growth, have been hindered. Lockdown critics argue that children were forced to stay at home for too long during the pandemic, despite evidence suggesting that they played a limited role in spreading the illness and were less likely to fall sick from it.
Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith commented on the report, stating, A lot of us knew what was going to happen. For children to be shut out of school was a disaster. The OECD called for reforms to improve teaching quality and teachers’ qualifications to address the deterioration in educational standards.
The report’s findings serve as a warning that even after economies have recovered from the recessions caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, the long-term effects will continue to impact society and hinder economic growth.
In related news, the UK’s economic growth is expected to pick up from 0.3 percent in 2020 to 0.7 percent in 2024, surpassing Germany and France. While the UK has shown signs of recovery, the eurozone’s economy remains stuck in reverse, with a monthly index of activity for the private sector coming in at just 47.9. Germany recorded a score of 47, and France scored a measly 45.4.
The OECD’s report serves as a reminder that the ongoing effects of the pandemic, particularly on education, will have long-term consequences for economic growth and productivity. Measures to improve teaching quality and support disadvantaged students will be crucial in mitigating these effects and ensuring a stronger future for economies worldwide.
