5 years after COVID-19 started, parents and experts say the impact on kids remains
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education continues to linger for many families, including Katherine Korakakis and her children in Montreal. Despite spending nearly $400 a week on tutoring to help her 14-year-old Bella and 17-year-old Nathan catch up in math, French, and science, they are still struggling to keep up with their peers. Korakakis, who is also the president of the English Parents’ Committee Association of Quebec, acknowledges that her children are not the only ones facing these challenges.
The disruptions caused by school closures and the transition to online learning have resulted in learning loss and ongoing difficulties for many students. Ontario and Quebec experienced some of the longest school closures in North America, leading to a variety of issues such as lack of focus in online classes, delays in support for learning challenges, and anxiety about seeing friends in person.
For Nathan, the pandemic-induced anxiety has been particularly challenging, leading to therapy sessions to address his fears. The restrictions and curfews in Quebec only exacerbated his concerns, but with therapy, he has slowly started to socialize with friends outside of school and overcome his fear of not wearing a mask.
In Toronto, Adriana Ferreira’s family, including her two children with disabilities, Samuel and Sophia, have also felt the effects of the pandemic on their education. While Samuel was able to attend a special school for children with disabilities, Sophia struggled in virtual kindergarten and as the sole student in her special education class, impacting her social skills and educational progress.
Louis Volante, a professor at Brock University, has been researching the educational impacts of the pandemic on students across Canada. According to international assessments, students were behind in mathematics and reading following the lockdowns, with long-term repercussions still being felt. Volante emphasizes the importance of addressing non-academic factors such as mental health, social skills, and sense of belonging in schools to support students’ academic success.
While some provinces have offered support for academic catch-up, there is a need for more comprehensive strategies to address the broader impacts of the pandemic on students. Korakakis and other parents advocate for increased government investment in tutoring, mental health support, and social skills development to help students recover from the learning losses experienced during the pandemic.
Looking back on the past five years since the start of the pandemic, Korakakis reflects on the missed opportunities and transitions her children have experienced. She hopes for a more robust national catch-up strategy to support students in overcoming the challenges brought on by the pandemic and ensure a brighter future for all.
