Category Archives: Education

Many pupils struggled with learning during COVID-19 lockdown

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I was shocked to read that, according to a poll conducted by the Office for National Statistics, 52% of parents thought their child had struggled to continue learning during the lockdown, and 77% said that the main reason was a lack of motivation. A staggering 43% also put the blame for their child’s poor academic progress on the lack of guidance and support from schools!

I realise that these were exceptional circumstances, and the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting worldwide lockdown hit us all like a ton of bricks. But some schools managed fantastically well and their students did not experience that many adverse effects. So why did some children fare so badly?

Sadly, 64% of those in the 16-18-year bracket felt that continuing their education at home would negatively affect their future plans. Even more frightening is the effect homeschooling had on people’s wellbeing. Around 34% of women said it negatively affected their own wellbeing and 43% of parents thought homeschooling negatively affected the wellbeing of their children. Also, many parents who were in employment stated that homeschooling negatively affected their job.

When we stop to think about it, school is a relatively new phenomenon. Before schools, children were taught at home, either by parents or tutors (if they had the money) or they were sent away to study under somebody capable of training their children. Teaching our children should be a wonderful and rewarding experience, but the reality is very different. I think much of this is because parents have so many demands on their time. How can a mother or father successfully plan, draft, teach, mark and motivate their children’s schoolwork when they have very little time. Most households have two parents working – and if they are not working full time they are working part time.

I think the government should have paid a daily allowance to parents of children over a certain age – say 5 years – to encourage them to stay at home to teach their children. We had financial support for staff on furlough, support for the self-employed, business loans, tax reprieves etc – so why not financially support those trying to teach the next generation?

The Effect of COVID-19 on Young People

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The coronavirus has had a devastating effect on education – from schools closed, to end-of-term tests postponed, to exams cancelled. The impact of the lock down has caused many in the education sector to voice concerns over the overall consequences of the pandemic on young people.

We currently live in a technology driven world, and some young people already experience the social isolation associated with an over-reliance on the internet and mobile devices. It is becoming evident that the increased seclusion caused by the lock down has put the mental health of many young people at risk. While we do not fully understand the damaging long-term consequences of the lock down and the lack of physical contact among young people, medical professionals are already reporting a rise in mental health problems such as anxiety, fear, loneliness and depression as a result of school closures during the pandemic.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people worldwide, and it is therefore vital that we all take responsibility for caring for those around us at this difficult time. Many young people have experienced serious illness or losses connected to COVID-19 and they may need extra support and attention. In order to provide support to schools, All Resources has produced a resource pack that examines COVID-19 through a number of subjects in an honest and practical way. “After COVID-19 – Returning to Education after the Coronavirus” uses the coronavirus as a catalyst to introduce different topics and young people are encouraged to discuss their fears and concerns and recognise the impact of COVID-19 via different viewpoints and settings. It comes as a main resource pack with 8 topics including lesson plans and worksheets, or as a series of one-off lesson plans, each one covering a different subject. This a great way of ensuring all young people have the opportunity to talk about their experiences, fears and concerns in an open and supportive environment.

Exam Stress

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Exam season is here again, and there is no doubt that exams can reveal how well you are doing and pinpoint areas where improvements are needed. Exams are also a means of accessing further education and university, but not all people are suited to a university education. There are other avenues that can be explored such as training and apprenticeships, so you should not pin all your hopes on examination grades.

The period after exams is a bit of an anti-climax. You may feel flat and exhausted. You want to know your results but realise that you have a long wait. Feelings of dread can start to sweep over you as you contemplate the possibility of failure.

This is often a difficult time and you may feel unable to cope with the delay between examination and result. You may think you have failed and cannot face the humiliation. Now is the time to confide in family and friends as they can often help you to put things into perspective.

Too much emphasis is placed on exam grades. There are so many other assets and qualities that each of us has. Even if your grades are lower than expected, you can learn from the experience. You are not a failure. There is really no point in getting good grades through cramming, cheating or guessing. If you are confident that you did your best then you have no reason to feel a failure. You are young and have your whole life ahead of you and there is plenty of time to do re-takes, look at other courses, consider training etc.

While exams are a worthwhile part of your education they are by no means the be-all and end-all. You have many other options open to you so take advantage of them while you can.

Here are a few useful tips for successful studying:

  • Make a schedule – organise your time well in advance (perhaps months before)
  • Set yourself goals
  • Pace yourself . For every 50 minutes of study take a 5 minute break. When you return, spend 5 minutes seeing how much you can recall and jot down some notes. Now have a quick revision of the material before you go on to a new section. After 3-4 hours take a longer break. Go out and visit friends. Play some music. Take the dog for a walk. You will then feel refreshed enough to continue your studies
  • Have a quiet place to study which is free from distractions. Turn the TV or radio off
  • Make use of your public library for peaceful studying periods or research
  • Get together with friends to test each other
  • Do not try to cram in everything the week before (or even worse – the night before!)
  • Above all – stick with it. Stay calm and talk to your parents and teachers about any worries you have

The Value of Education

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Yesterday, Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai addressed the United Nations as part of her campaign to ensure free compulsory education for every child. Last October, the Taliban shot Malala as she sat on her school bus. She had been campaigning for girls’ rights to an education, obviously something the Taliban is strongly against as women are discriminated againist regularly in Pakistan. As she spoke to the United Nations yesterday, Malala stated; “I am here to speak up for the right of education of every child.”

It is kind of ironic that here in the UK, where education is free for every child, young people missed 3.7m school days in the autumn term 2011 (Department for Education report for state primary and secondary schools in England 2011/12). On a typical day in autumn 2011 around 55,600 youngsters missed school, and around 48,000 children missed a month or more of lessons, therefore making them “persistent absentees”. Although truancy rates have fallen slightly from 2010/11 to 2011/12, it is still a significant problem in UK schools. Malala fought to obtain something that some young people in the UK regularly go out of their way to avoid!

The reasons for truancy are complex. Research shows socioeconomic factors play a large role in determining student attendance. The lower the family income is, the higher the truancy rate. Some children are afraid of being reprimanded by their teachers for previous absences, and so they stay off for long periods. In some cases, children are shy and find school daunting – they suffer from school phobia. Bullying is also responsible for a large number of school absences and young people may stay away out of fear. Some children simply do not like going to school and are more interested in playing with their friends. They may find their school uninspiring and feel it does not benefit them. Sometimes, education is seen as ‘uncool’ and playing truant is a way of rebelling against society. Whatever the reasons, we need a committed and determined effort to examine the reasons why young people play truant so that we can take positive action to tackle this serious issue.

It must be difficult for Malala to understand why anyone would play truant. She risked her life and almost died for the sake of an education for herself and others. Perhaps it is because education is so freely available in the UK that we take it for granted and don’t appreciate its value. Maybe we need to get Malala to talk to schools around the country. I am sure her story would carry much weight and would help to highlight what a precious gift a free education is.