A new study from the USA paints an alarming picture: millions of children are struggling with reading and math. Experts warn that the consequences could be felt for decades.
What exactly have the researchers found? The Annie E. Casey Foundation has examined the well-being of children in the USA. The education sector particularly scores poorly. The figures from the published report show a significant decline in basic skills:
- 70% of fourth graders cannot read at grade level (2019: 66%)
- 73% of eighth graders do not achieve sufficient math proficiency (2019: 67%)
- Only 46% of three and four-year-olds attend preschool
The experts see this as a serious warning sign. Reading and math are considered the most important foundations for later graduation, entering the workforce, and economic opportunities in adulthood.
Is Corona to blame?
The reasons for the results are diverse. According to the researchers, the pandemic played a significant role. School closures, distance learning, and the psychological stresses of the Corona period have set many children back sustainably. However, the problems apparently began even earlier. Scientists from Harvard University speak of a “learning recession,” meaning a decline that has been ongoing for more than ten years (Fortune).
They cite increasing use of smartphones, social media, and digital learning tools, which often do not deliver the expected educational success, as possible causes. There is also a new concern: Artificial intelligence could exacerbate learning problems if students increasingly outsource tasks to chatbots and consequently think less independently (Betzold).
What is the situation in Germany? The development closely resembles current findings from Germany. The IQB Education Trend 2024 showed that the performance of German ninth graders in math and natural sciences has fallen to a historical low.
34 percent of students are now below the minimum standards in math for the Intermediate School Certificate. In 2018, this figure was still at 22 percent, as summarized by the German School Portal.
Researchers in Germany also see the Corona years as an important factor, but also speak of long-term problems that began before the pandemic (Tagesschau).
What do you think about this development? Do you have the impression that children and young people today face greater difficulties in reading, writing, or arithmetic than in the past?
The study from the USA shows that many children are still grappling with the consequences of past years, and new developments do not improve the situation. However, some children also bring their own individual issues to school. In that case, they need the right approach: Because his daughter is struggling with problems in school, her father will for the first time take on the role of game master in Dungeons & Dragons
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