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

Author

Listed:
  • Shinsuke Asakawa

    (Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University)

  • Fumio Ohtake

    (Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University,Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Shinsuke Asakawa & Fumio Ohtake, 2021. "Impact of Temporary School Closure Due to COVID-19 on the Academic Achievement of Elementary School Students," Discussion Papers in Economics and Business 21-14, Osaka University, Graduate School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:osk:wpaper:2114
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Quentin Batista & Daisuke Fujii & Taisuke Nakata & Takeki Sunakawa, 2022. "COVID-19 and Suicide in Japan," CARF F-Series CARF-F-542, Center for Advanced Research in Finance, Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo.
    2. Patrinos,Harry Anthony & Vegas,Emiliana & Carter-Rau,Rohan, 2022. "An Analysis of COVID-19 Student Learning Loss," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10033, The World Bank.
    3. Christine de la Maisonneuve & Balázs Égert & David Turner, 2023. "Quantifying the Macroeconomic Impact of COVID-19-Related School Closures through the Human Capital Channel," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-14, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; School Closure; Learning Loss; Elementary School Students; Math Scores; DID and Event Study; Living conditions; Learning Disparity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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