The Effects of COVID on Education
The pandemic has had a tremendous impact on both the world of business and education, which we are going to see the effects of for quite some time. With GCSEs and A-Levels being cancelled, there is going to be quite a gap in the CV of many students. This has caused a lot of disruption with basic Maths, English and Functional Skills not being met. But have schools managed to keep learners on track?
Changes To Exams
Not only were exams cancelled last year during the middle of the pandemic; but it has also been confirmed that the summer 2021 series for GCSEs and A-Levels have also been cancelled. With students being taught remotely and being held responsible for their own studying, there is no way of measuring how much learning has actually taken place.
Whilst many students welcomed the fact that grades would be decided by their teachers, as opposed to having to sit exams; others were not so pleased with this outcome. The outcome of their grades are completely out of their control. They are reliant upon the work they have previously carried out. This means that any student who has had a hard couple of months, for example, is unable to turn things around during their final exams.
Effects On Future Employment
The question that everyone is asking is how these estimated grades are going to impact students in their later years. There are many jobs that don’t require English or Maths skills. But, most employers do expect people to be educated to at least a Level 2. If this has not been achieved, it might mean that the student isn’t even invited to an interview in the first place.
So what can students that have found themselves in this terrible situation do? Well, it might just mean that a slight career detour has to take place, rather than going straight into full-time employment following completion of their GCSEs. Apprenticeships are a great way to gain additional knowledge, skills and behaviours, whilst training on the job. During an apprenticeship learners can continue to complete their Maths and English qualifications on the side. This then opens up the door for better career opportunities further on down the line.
Overall Impact Of COVID
Although COVID is the main thing to blame for this education disruption, it is worth remembering that pre-pandemic, there were always students who were taken out of school for short breaks. They were affected in a similar way, and were also less likely to achieve good results in English, Maths and Science. So this isn’t something new that the education sector is having to deal with. There are still processes in place to ensure students achieve the best grades possible.
At a glance, looking at the impact that COVID has had on education does seem rather bleak. One thing to remember is that children are young and resilient. This is just a short blip in their education which will probably affect them less than we think. You only have to look at how easily they settled back into school life after remote learning to see how quickly they adapt.
Time is definitely going to be the determining factor. We won’t know how much the education sector has been affected by the pandemic until a few years down the line. It does mean that we will probably see a greater shift towards apprenticeships in order for students to gain basic English and Maths skills though. This means Assessors are also going to be in demand, so if you are thinking of switching your career, now may well be a good time. Get in touch with the team at Brooks and Kirk for more information – call 01205 805155.