COVID-19 and Children's School Resilience: Evidence from Nigeria

Abstract

The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.

Exploring children’s knowledge of COVID-19 and stress levels associated with the pandemic in Nigeria: a mixed-method study

“…The pandemic has increased poverty in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with long-standing educational and social inequity. 7 27 As a consequence, an already-low demand for, and access to, quality education may have weakened. 16 A worsened effect of this situation on children of lower class families due to prepandemic socioeconomic and educational inequalities is expected.…”

“…Interestingly, despite majority of respondents being middle class, one-fifth of surveyed children did not have any form of schooling at the time of the study. The pandemic has increased poverty in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with long-standing educational and social inequity 7 27. As a consequence, an already-low demand for, and access to, quality education may have weakened 16.…”

“…Other reports noted increased gender-based violence targeting women and children, and predicted that Nigerian children would suffer from pandemic control measures. 7 8 In sub-Saharan Africa, there were significant concerns about the mental health impacts of COVID-19 restrictions, particularly school closures and stay at-home policies which heighten family and parent–child stressors. 9 As seen in other countries, Nigerian children may have also suffered consequences of school closure including loss of play, supplementary meals, physical and social networking, and isolation.…”

“…These studies conducted in Nigeria have largely excluded children’s experiences. Other reports noted increased gender-based violence targeting women and children, and predicted that Nigerian children would suffer from pandemic control measures 7 8. In sub-Saharan Africa, there were significant concerns about the mental health impacts of COVID-19 restrictions, particularly school closures and stay at-home policies which heighten family and parent–child stressors 9.…”

The Economics of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poor Countries

“…The pandemic economic shock may also make it more difficult for poor families to pay for school fees in the coming years. It seems unlikely that these losses will be fully reversed for those who dropped out due to the pandemic (Favara et al 2021;Evans et al 2021;Dessy et al 2021). Azevedo et al (2020) argue that this loss of schooling, learning and ultimately human capital in most LMICs could have major long-run economic consequences.…”