Impact of Temporary School Closure Due to COVID-19 on the Academic Achievement of Elementary School Students

Shinsuke Asakawa () and Fumio Ohtake
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Shinsuke Asakawa: Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University

No 21-14, Discussion Papers in Economics and Business from Osaka University, Graduate School of Economics

Abstract: This study examines the effects of COVID-19 related temporary school closures on the academic performance of fifth- and sixth-grade primary school students in Japan. Difference-in-differences and event studies were conducted using "Manabi Nara" data, a math achievement test administered to fourth-sixth graders at each term-end in Nara City. Children who experienced temporary school closure made the treatment group while inexperienced one-year older children were the control group. The results showed lowered math scores in the short term, but scores significantly increased six months after school closure. Further, the lower the students' academic achievement was, the greater was their improvement in their math scores. We found that increased motivation and attitude shifts toward math during this period contributed to improved scores. Finally, students with disadvantaged living conditions around school vacations saw their math scores and motivation and attitude toward math fall, particularly in the bottom 25% of their fourth-grade academic performance.

Keywords: COVID-19; School Closure; Learning Loss; Elementary School Students; Math Scores; DID and Event Study; Living conditions; Learning Disparity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I21 I24 I28 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 85pages
Date: 2021-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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