09 September 2020
Disruption to schooling this year will cause a skill loss in this generation of students that could eventually lead to as much as a 1.5 percent drop in global economic output for the rest of this century.
This was an estimate recently derived by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development .
“Learning loss will lead to skill loss, and the skills people have relate to their productivity,” according to the OECD report on the matter.
Governments around the world closed schools this year for as long as 10 weeks, which typically represents one-third of a year of schooling.
One impact of the school closures this year was a widening of the gap in educational opportunities between the rich and poor. Children with Internet access, computers, and supportive families fared better than their peers without.
Even as schools in many countries reopen, big challenges remain for education, according to the OECD report, such as how to integrate students back into the physical learning environment in a way that is both safe and sustainable.