COVID-19 and learning loss: a global perspective

This chapter provides a preliminary overview of the emergent research literature on the impact of the pandemic on primary and secondary pupils’ learning losses. Examples of subsequent and prominent education policies that have been adopted to address these learning losses will be briefly noted, particularly those to support socioeconomically disadvantaged student populations. The introduction also explains the rationale for the inclusion of select educational jurisdictions that are represented in this volume. A framework for the national profiles presented in the second part of this book and limitations of this edited volume are also discussed. The chapter situates the importance of the volume within a broader global context, arguing that the pandemic and resulting research illustrate the educational impacts of unexpected, devastating events that suddenly changed the learning environment, and the differential impacts of these sudden changes on vulnerable student populations. Overall, the chief objective of the volume is to promote greater understanding of the relationship between student achievement and the varying success of education policies that have been adopted to address learning losses in socioeconomically disadvantaged student groups across a number of European nations.