Self-learning at the right level, COVID-19, school closure, and non-cognitive abilities

B-Tier
Journal: Economics of Education Review
Year: 2025
Volume: 107
Issue: C

Authors (4)

Mahmud, Minhaj (Asian Development Bank) Sawada, Yasuyuki (University of Tokyo) Seki, Mai (not in RePEc) Takakura, Kazuma (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.503 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated school closures exacerbated the global learning crisis, especially for children in developing countries. Teaching at the right level is gaining greater importance in the policy arena as a means to recover learning loss. This study forms part of an emerging body of work to examine the long-term effects of experimental educational interventions. In particular, we investigate the long-term effects of Kumon’s “self-learning at the right level” program, which was previously found to be effective in the short run in improving both the cognitive and non-cognitive abilities of disadvantaged students in Bangladesh. We revisit these students almost six years after the intervention followed by COVID-19 school closures. The program’s impact on non-cognitive abilities seems to remain perceptible, whereas its effect on cognitive abilities might have been attenuated. This suggests that such individualized self-learning interventions can effectively sustain students’ non-cognitive abilities amid academic disruptions.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:ecoedu:v:107:y:2025:i:c:s0272775725000378
Journal Field
Education
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25