How coronavirus has affected young people

However, the greatest untold effect is on young people’s education from the voice of young people themselves. Here are the thoughts of one of the three out of four students out of school as a direct result of Covid-19.

It is irrefutable that the benefits deriving from children in quarantine, with respect to limiting the spread of coronavirus, outweigh the costs of allowing business as usual regarding schooling.

Having said this, recent studies have demonstrated that children are significantly less susceptible to catching and spreading the disease. Alongside this, the associated drawbacks of lockdown on schools make for a compelling counter argument.

Primary school students are some of the worst hit. Social scientists have commented on the stark development of critical thinking and emotional understanding in the playground and classroom, which now cease to occur. Moreover, younger students lack the independent qualities attendant with their older/more mature counterparts to study alone.

The cancellation of exams may seem like a get out of jail free card for those that would’ve faced them this year, however, this can have major consequences. Sceptics of the decision claim that teachers may inadvertently under-predict students based on socioeconomic standing. Those in secondary school may be more self assured than those in primary schools, but the question is by how much?

The lack of face to face teaching accompanied with the “summer learning slump” (the falling of grades over the summer holidays) have led some to speculate that as much as up to one year of education could be lost in lockdown. Since one year of studying roughly equates to a 10 per cent increase in salary, this can manifestly have life long impacts on students up and down the country.

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning the inequalities which have arisen in these turbulent times. One in two of those in private education are receiving video call lessons, compared to a mere one in five at state schools. Also, students from higher income backgrounds are more likely to be aided by parents and have access to critical resources like the internet, whilst those with domestic issues are much less likely to be as fortunate.

These inequalities are mitigated by the existence of schools, however, they soon self evidently reemerge in their absence. As pillars of fairness, it is so essential that schools in some way or another begin reopening.

Such reopening isn’t too uncommon either. Many other countries have begun such processes, for instance, Denmark and China. For the aforementioned reasons of levelling the playing field, younger and lower income students should take priority. Schooling itself can encompass aspects of social distancing to limit the spread of coronavirus. Gradually, as the dust settles more students may come back to school until lockdown is terminated.

In these times it can be convenient to simply wait for schools to open under the Government’s initiative, however, for the sake of equal opportunity and the futures of the children of this generation, we must begin to end quarantine.