COVID-19 Impact.pdf

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) conducted a study to monitor the impacts of COVID-19 on learning outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study, known as the Monitoring Impacts on Learning Outcomes (MILO) project, was funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and implemented in six countries: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal, and Zambia.

Key Findings:

The study assessed reading and mathematics performance of students at the end of primary school (SDG 4.1.1b).
The reading assessment found that students in MILO countries performed below the minimum proficiency level, with an average score of 441 out of 1,000.
The mathematics assessment found that students in MILO countries also performed below the minimum proficiency level, with an average score of 434 out of 1,000.
The study found significant differences in performance between countries, with Kenya and Senegal performing better than the other four countries.
The study also found that students from disadvantaged backgrounds performed lower than their peers from more advantaged backgrounds.

Methodology:

The study used a sample of over 12,000 students from 240 schools in the six MILO countries.
The reading and mathematics assessments were designed to measure minimum proficiency levels, as defined by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).
The assessments were administered in the local language of each country, and the results were scaled to a common metric to allow for comparisons between countries.

Conclusion:

The MILO study provides evidence of the significant impact of COVID-19 on learning outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to support students who have fallen behind, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
* The study also emphasizes the importance of continued monitoring and evaluation of learning outcomes to inform education policy and practice in the region.