Learning Loss in Lockdown: Impact of COVID-19 on Schooling in India

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc across all sectors, with education being no exception. India's education system is one of the world's largest, serving 265 million students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. India is also known for the heterogeneity and diversity in its education system. Nearly 50% of the total students in schools are enrolled in private schools of many hues and color. The rest study in government schools, again of many different kind and types. The present chapter seeks to analyse the effect of the pandemic specifically on the socially and economically disadvantaged groups, which mostly rely on the government for schooling. The chapter uses a counter-factual approach to analyse the data culled out from UDISE, UDISE+, and ASER. It seeks to analyse the impact and emergent trends. The chapter intends to identify the probable causes of massive learning losses amongst children in government schools and comment on the impact of lockdown and loss of lives and livelihood. The significance of this chapter lies in quantifying and highlighting the extent of the pandemic's impact on the education sector. Finally, the chapter is expected to help policymakers address critical issues, reallocate budgets, and make necessary operational and strategic decisions.