Learning losses during Covid evident at primary level: Govt study

A government study has found evidence of learning loss among primary school students across all classes and subjects due to school closure during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among them, students of class V suffered the highest learning loss while the students of class II experienced the least learning loss, according to the study report prepared by National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) unveiled Tuesday. Education Minister Dipu Moni was present as the chief guest at the report unveiling ceremony held at The Westin Dhaka in the capital.

The study was made with the support of the European Union which presents the findings on students' learning losses and learning gaps identified from the response of over 18,000 students' learning status as of September 2022.

As per the report, among the subjects observed, the greatest learning loss were in the subjects of Bangladesh and Global Studies (-16.43 per cent) of class V, Bangla (-15.23 per cent) of class III and English (-12.49 per cent) of class V.

However, the report stated that the lowest learning loss was -0.33 per cent in Mathematics of class II and -0.15 per cent in Mathematics in class III.

Class II students scored higher in English than in other subjects, while class III scored the highest in Bangladesh and Global Studies (BGS) and the students of class IV and V scored the highest in Bangla.

Surprisingly, a slight learning gain was observed among students of class III. The subject of Bangladesh and Global Studies met with a modest improvement in average marks.

The study said a significant proportion of class II students had ‘severe’ and ‘moderate’ learning gaps in both class I and class II curriculums of the subjects of Bangla, English and Mathematics.

Students in class II have ‘severe’ learning gaps in Bangla (35.59 per cent), English (31.09 per cent), and in Mathematics (78.27 per cent) in their class I curriculum. Besides, a significant proportion of class II students are still suffering severely in achieving their curriculum competencies of Bangla (42.72 per cent), English (31 82 per cent) and Mathematics (41.61 per cent).

The report said a significant portion of class II students have ‘severe’ gaps in both the curricula of class II and III of Bangla, English, Mathematics, Science and BGS subjects.

Students of class III have ‘severe’ learning gaps in Bangla (38.94 per cent), English (35.28 per cent) in Mathematics (39.71 per cent), Science (48.84 per cent) and in BGS (34.98 per cent) in the class III curriculum.

Meanwhile, a significant portion of class III students have ‘severe’ learning gaps in Bangla (49.69 per cent), English (45.20 per cent), Mathematics (45.48 per cent), science (41.64 per cent), and BGS (40.09 per cent) in their current curriculum as well.