The Lingering Effects of Unfinished Learning

McKinsey and Co have published a paper on the effects of COVID-19 on the effects of the pandemic on student learning and well-being. The paper is entitled “COVID-19 and education: The lingering effects of unfinished learning”. The paper focuses primarily on the effects of the pandemic in the US, but the recommendations have global significance.

Listen to the article: COVID-19 and education: The lingering effects of unfinished learning

The paper highlights that the fallout from the pandemic threatens to depress this generation’s prospects and constrict their opportunities far into adulthood. They specifically highlight the term “unfinished learning” to refer to the fact that students were not given the opportunity this year to complete all the learning they would have completed in a typical year.

Key Findings

The report analyses the effects of ‘unfinished learning’, and some of the findings are as follows:

• By the end of 2020-2021, students, on average, were on average 5 months behind in maths, and four months behind in reading.
• The initial shock was especially severe in Maths, with students learning little, if anything, in the initial shutdown. The effect on reading was less but continued to accumulate.
• Parents reported increases in mental health conditions and concerning behaviours in children, particularity, anxiety, depression, lethargy, social withdrawal, self-isolation, and irrational fears.

For the full analysis refer to the report.

Key Takeaway

By our interpretation, the key finding of the report is that the pandemic and ‘unfinished learning’ will have long-term effects on lifetime earnings, economic productivity, social integration, and personal health.

” Unfinished learning is real—and inequitable “

McKinsey & Co.

Next Steps

These are not new insights, but the value of the paper lies in the recommendations that McKinsey makes as to how to remedy the problem. Whilst we do not agree that all of these recommendations are relevant to the global problem, they offer some significant insights into the past state of education and also point to future developments in education.

Specifically, they refer to the recommendations made by the ‘Coalition to Advance Future Student Success‘, a think tank of leading educational practitioners.

These priorities encompass four potential actions for education:

• Safely reopen schools for in-person learning.
• Reengage students and reenroll them in effective learning environments.
• Support students in recovering unfinished learning and broader needs.
• Recommit and reimagine our education systems for the long term.

These objectives are very similar to those recommended by UNESCO and the World Bank. See our post entitled: ‘From disruption to recovery – UNICEF’.

Re-imagine our Education Systems for the Long-Term

Of the above recommendations, what is of particular interest to us, because it complements our approach, is that McKinsey points out that opportunity gaps have existed in school systems for a long time. We think that this is a worldwide phenomenon. In their analysis, they provide recommendations to enhance education and learning in the future.

They highlight:

• developing high-quality curricula
• providing engaging, curriculum and instruction
• delivered by diverse and effective educators
• supported by effective assessments to inform instruction and support

Whilst they don’t specifically endorse our view of the importance of community-based learning, they reflect that parents are considering hybrid models, remote learning, homeschooling, or learning hubs over the long term.

They conclude as we do that the future of ‘unfinished learning’ provides the global learning community a generational opportunity to re-imagine learning and that the pandemic will no doubt have profound effects on future learning endevours.

McKinsey is the oldest and largest of the “Big Three” management consultancies, the world’s three largest strategy consulting firms by revenue. It has consistently been recognized as the most prestigious consulting firm in the world.

Any commentary is solely the opinion of Winning Teams, and is not endorsed by McKinsey & Co.