Why did pupils’ maths fall after 2018?

The cards, in order

1. Pupils in 72 countries: maths at age 15 worsened significantly in 41 countries from 2018 to 2022

   Was it closed schools?

2. Maths at age 15 fell significantly from 2018 to 2022 in 21 of 33 countries where schools were closed under 40 weeks, and in 7 of 17 where closed over 60 weeks

   What about how strict the restrictions were?

3. Maths at age 15 fell significantly after 2018 in 16 of 35 countries with strict COVID-19 restrictions and in 22 of 34 with mild ones

   Then maybe the internet?

4. OECD 15-year-olds: 14 more hours a week online from 2012 to 2018, and maths stayed where it was

   What about devices in class itself?

5. OECD pupils: an hour of leisure screen time at school goes with 6 fewer maths points, an hour after school with 3 more

   Does banning phones help?

6. OECD pupils: where phones are banned at school, 50% use one there every day; where they are not, 63%

There is no simple explanation

From 2018 to 2022 maths at age 15 worsened significantly in 41 of 72 countries. Where schools were closed longer and restrictions were stricter, falls were not more frequent. Time online rose by 14 hours a week before 2018, while scores held still. An hour of leisure screen time at school goes with 6 fewer points, and a phone ban does not keep phones out of school: these are associations, not proven causes.

Sources

• OECD: PISA 2022 tables
• OECD: PISA 2022, Volume II (devices)
• UNESCO: duration of school closures
• Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker

All findings →