Remember when everyone thought the emergence of Covid-19 would only result in a short 2-week break from school? Unfortunately, the current reality for many students is approaching almost two years of online school. Sure, many of us enjoy attending university lectures and work from the comfort of our own home, but only because we are technologically savvy, and are all too familiar with our gadgets. But what about the children aged 3 to 5 years old, who have yet to attend a single day of preschool? What about the primary school children whose critical developmental years are reduced to idle learning in front of a computer? This is the chilling concern that clouds many parents, especially those with younger children.
Same price, fewer benefits
The predicaments of the new virtual learning wave are most obviously disadvantageous to many parents. Parents are now getting less value for their money. Most schools during the pandemic have been charging parents the same tuition fees as they would in ordinary circumstances. It can be assumed that parents everywhere are now paying the same for less because their children are not benefitting from facilities they paid for. Children are not provided with the school's art supplies or musical instruments, but rather they now have to purchase their own.
Furthermore, many parents had to become educators almost overnight. Parents were suddenly tasked with teaching their young children how to use a computer, use online classrooms, submit online assignments, and more---things that were unfamiliar to many parents. On top of the inconvenience of 'Work From Home', many parents had to take on the second role of a home-school teacher. This job is an additional burden on the shoulders of parents who previously relied on schools to care for their children while they fulfill their parental responsibilities, knowing their children are in good hands.
A new wave of 'learning loss'
The arrival of a global pandemic and the shift towards virtual learning introduces another economic concern known as 'learning loss'. Learning loss can be defined as the general loss of knowledge or skills, most commonly due to extended gaps or discontinuation of a student's learning. Although knowledge is never actually 'lost' the term refers to the change in "previously imagined trajectory leading to a previously imagined future" (Gabriel, 2021). Â There is a recent rise in the popularity of discourse relating to whether or not virtual learning is actually inflicting a global wave of learning loss, with polarizing opinions. And the key question remains, what effect does virtual learning have on children today?
The importance of physical learning
  It is without a doubt that classrooms are one of the most efficient places to learn. Aside from standard curriculum knowledge, schools are more than a place for academic learning. Physical interaction with peers and educators is key to the progress of a child's emotional development.Â
A survey done by Horace Mann Educators Corporation of 941 educators shows that 57% of educators estimated that their students are more than three months behind on social-emotional progress. From this, it can be safely assumed that there is a significant role of physical learning to students, even beyond academic qualities. This is because students can fully reap the benefits of interacting with educators and classmates alike; stimulating each other's learning process, inducing healthy competition, and more importantly, educators can gauge their student's learning process vigilantly.
  Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for virtual learning. The picture becomes murkier when taken into consideration that there is a lack of understanding of the long-term effects of virtual learning, as it had not been a popular style of learning until the Covid-19 pandemic. But a recent study by McKinsey & Company shows that the majority of teachers from 8 countries believe that virtual learning is a poor substitute for learning in classrooms. This is caused by a plethora of reasons: lack of supervision virtually, easy access to cheating, and added distractions---just to name a few.
How are disadvantaged children affected?
Though it is important to note that knowledge or learning can never truly be lost, it seems a little tone-deaf when virtual learning is generally only sufficient in schools with a majority population of financially stable children. The fact is, the inefficiency of online learning disproportionately affects schools in areas with a higher rate of poverty. This may be caused by a variety of reasons. First, children from low-income households are more likely to attend public schools that generally lack resources to support quality virtual learning. Second, virtual learning requires reliable technology; computers, stable internet, many of which are still quite inaccessible to those living in remote or low-income areas. Lastly, low-income parents are less able to provide supplements for enrichment, such as tutoring, for their children.
The imbalance in the learning pace of disadvantaged children relative to the general population further exacerbates education inequalities. A McKinsey & Company report predicted that the cumulative learning loss of the 2020-2021 academic year could range from losing 5-9 months in mathematics with black, Hispanic, and children with disabilities losing more on average. Thus, it is not far-fetched to fear that the surge of virtual learning will only widen the socio-economic and educational gaps in future generations.Â
The change in the trajectory of the predicted future
  It is difficult to accurately predict the true impact of the Covid-19 induced learning loss. However, it can be firmly stated that the current pace of our education system will change our future. Firstly there will be a change in the expected learning outcomes of the children in school. Based on recent findings, there is a clear setback in the pace at which children are learning. This would mean a greater burden to bear for teachers as well as students when they return to school. Teachers would have to ensure that their students have caught up to the curriculum and are on the same page, which is not an easy feat.
  Secondly, past studies can also indicate how learning outcomes affect the labor market and economic development. If schools can return to pre-pandemic performance, the typical student can experience up to 3% lower career earnings, with disadvantaged children likely to experience higher numbers. Unless schools are able to exceed pre-pandemic performance, this statistic is likely to be permanent. On a macro scale, these results could cost nations 1.5% lower GDP for the remainder of the century and could go lower if they are unable to swiftly return to previous performance levels.
  Unfortunately, there is no cure-all for this unprecedented phenomenon. There is still much to improve upon and inequality gaps to fill, to achieve a reliable learning system. Ultimately, government intervention, investments, and reformations will be necessary to mitigate these shortcomings. At the end of it all, one thing surely learned during the pandemic: there are still large gaps and inconsistencies within our current education systems and there is an urgency to mend it---for the good of everyone.Â
References
Strauss, V. (2021, March 10). What 'learning loss' really means. Washington Post. Â
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