Covid-19 has had a major impact on school education in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. The lockdowns have resulted in the schools being closed to the majority of children and young people. The schools have remained open for the children of key workers and vulnerable children only. Many children are engaged in home learning which can involve being taught online or being provided with learning resources. 

There has been considerable media attention focussed on the long-term effects of school closures, the reconfiguration of assessment in public examinations and the stresses of home learning for children, teachers and parents.

As schools begin to cautiously reopen, there are indications that increased numbers of young people are suffering from mental and physical health problems. Many children feel isolated and there may be new stresses in the home environment. There may be limited space in the home and insufficient numbers of devices that can access the internet. The restrictions and lockdowns have exacerbated pre-existing problems and there has been an increase in some forms of extreme behaviour. Recent reports, for example, have focussed on the disturbing rise in self harm among young people. 

The pandemic has highlighted the serious plight of those children who are living in poverty. Around a quarter of the children in Scotland live in poverty and this figure is growing. There has been a rise in public and civic awareness of the extent of poverty and child poverty in Scotland in recent years. The proliferation and variety of food banks is a highly visible indicator of poverty in contemporary Scotland. Food banks have recorded a significant rise in uptake over the last five years and have struggled to cope with the demand for food during the pandemic.

There is one group of children which deserves to receive more public attention and understanding: young carers. A young carer is somebody who is under 18 and who has caring responsibilities. The young carer may be as young as five years old and, in some cases, even younger.  Children who live in poverty are more likely to have caring responsibilities. There are over 44,000 young carers in Scotland and the figure is probably higher because some children do not recognise themselves as young carers – they simply see themselves as looking after other people. Caring can be for a parent (or both parents) who is physically or mentally ill or who has a disability or suffers from addiction.  The caring duties can include support in dressing and attending to the domestic chores. It can mean providing emotional support for an adult and often means caring for the daily needs of younger siblings. The caring duties can mean that the young carer is late for school or unable to complete homework in time. The Children’s Society adds that one third of young carers have mental health issues. During periods of restrictions and lockdowns the caring duties of some young carers have become intensified and they feel increasingly isolated and disconnected from their friends. 

Professor Stephen McKinney is the leader of Pedagogy, Praxis and Faith, a Research and Teaching Group, in the School of Education University of Glasgow. He is member of the Archdiocese of Glasgow Commission for Justice and Peace.  Professor Stephen McKinney Is one of the panel members at our online event on Sunday 7th March - 'Poverty & Pandemic' looking at the impact of the pandemic and asking how the church can be ready and prepared in our communities to meet the challenges.   Book your place to join us here Poverty & Pandemic Tickets, Sun 7 Mar 2021 at 16:30 | Eventbrite