A research team from the University of Amsterdam and Erasmus University has received a ZonMW research grant for the project “The social dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic: Education, socio-economic position and solidarity”. The COVID-19 pandemic not only affects our health, but also employment, income, social-psychological well-being and education. This team will map out the social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic to identify vulnerable groups, and to formulate policy strategies for strengthening the resilience of individuals, organizations and society. Herman van de Werfhorst (PI), Thijs Bol and Sara Geven are involved in this project.

Thijs Bol studies the short- and long-term effects of homeschooling during the COVID-19 pandemic on social inequality in educational outcomes. Which students in primary and secondary school had less resources at home during the school shutdown? What are the consequences for students when it comes to educational and socio-emotional outcomes? And how are the consequences of home schooling distributed between schools in the Netherlands?

Sara Geven studies how school staff who are involved in the track recommendation procedure in Dutch primary schools deal with the COVID-19 crisis. What is the impact of the cancellation of the final test on (their) students? How does their teaching take shape? And how do they maintain in contact with teachers and parents?

Herman van de Werfhorst, Emma Kessenich, and Sara Geven study “digital divides”. Now that education has largely gone digital, a question that raised concern is the potential effects of this forced and rapid digitalization on inequalities in learning. This project investigates the extent to which students are “corona-proof” in terms of digital preparedness before the pandemic, and relate this to social environment, migration background and gender. The first findings can be found here.

The PRIMS data collection is also connected to the ZonMw project. This project investigates inequalities in the transition from primary to secondary school, at times when the final test has been canceled and schools have been closed for two months.

Do you want to know more about these projects? Keep an eye on the website www.coronatijden.nl for updates on the projects’ findings.