Learning Deficit Due to Shutdowns Has Been a Global Disaster

Children around the world are struggling to read and facing significant educational setbacks due to COVID-19-related school closures - which did little to influence COVID-19 mortality.

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Prior to the pandemic, 57% of 10-year-olds in low and middle-income countries could not read properly, but this has increased to an estimated 70%

• The effects of the learning losses could be lifelong, leading to $21 trillion lost due to lower lifetime earnings

• Existing education inequalities have only worsened due to the closures; learning…