School Closures Restricted Children in Germany More than Elsewhere

School closures need not be the primary pandemic response measure. This is shown by a comparison of coronavirus education policies between Germany and six other European countries. For example, schools in the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden were closed for significantly shorter periods than German schools. Moreover, in Germany, the restrictions on schoolchildren were often greater than those on adult workers. In France, for example, working from home was mandatory wherever it was possible, while German parents could still go to the workplace, and curfew restrictions there were stricter for adults than for schoolchildren. 

In addition, the transition to online distance learning in Germany was often challenging. “When it comes to digital teaching, Germany is at the back of the pack,” Zierow says. “Other European countries have been using digital technologies in schools for several years, meaning they were able to switch to distance learning more easily and provide their students with knowledge more effectively.” For German schoolchildren, however, online classes took place comparatively rarely, and the resulting learning gaps are particularly wide for lower achievers. The article authors call for targeted programs to reduce these gaps and help affected schoolchildren learn during the pandemic. Here, too, Germany’s European neighbors could be a role model. A return to school closures would have drastic consequences, especially for disadvantaged schoolchildren.