Cherish the Children?

This project examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents. It looks at the economic, psychological, and social conditions their engagement with school during the pandemic and focuses on finding out which children were most vulnerable to the impacts of the pandemic. By examining the social and economic context of the children who missed school before, during and after the pandemic, this study aims to understand the pattern of disengagement from school. By analyzing data from a range of sources, we will be able to predict the patterning of school dis-engagement, so that educational policy makers, government officials, schools can understand the signs and conditions that are likely to lead to school dis-engagement. We hope that by knowing what to look for, educational policymakers, government officials, schools will be better able to support children at risk of missing school.

Education is widely regarded as a social good and is central to a range of Sustainable Development Goals around the development of human capital, the improvement of population health, the fostering of economic development, and the mitigation of social inequalities. Still, the meaning of education for social mobility and socioeconomic attainment is the subject of considerable debate, particularly with respect to its role in the life chances of people of different ethnicities, classes, genders, and geographies. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, schooling across the country moved online and even when schools re-opened there was evidence of large numbers of children not returning. This project seeks to understand social stratification in school engagement in Ireland with particular attention to who did or did not engage and what consequences it has, both short- and long-term.

Department of Politics and Public Administration Department of Sociology Health Research Board The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Limerick Youth Services

The project is in early stages and will be under regular review by a Project Advisory Board comprised of all project stakeholders.

Missing Children: Social Stratification among children not returning to formal schooling after COVID-19 closures This project will examine the economic, psychological, and social dynamics around school engagement during the COVID – 19 pandemic. It will involve multi-method analysis of data from a range of sources to better understand the social patterning of school dis-engagement, particularly with respect to geography, nativity, and socioeconomic status. Research engagement with educational policy makers, government officials, school administrators, and select families is critical to the research.

Education is widely regarded as a social good and is central to a range of Sustainable Development Goals around the development of human capital, the improvement of population health, the fostering of economic development, and the mitigation of social inequalities. Still, the meaning of education for social mobility and socioeconomic attainment is the subject of considerable debate, particularly with respect to its role in the life chances of people of different ethnicities, classes, genders, and geographies. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, schooling across the country moved online and even when schools re-opened there was evidence of large numbers of children not returning. This project seeks to understand social stratification in school engagement in Ireland with particular attention to who did or did not engage and what consequences it has, both short- and long-term.

Department of Politics and Public Administration Department of Sociology Health Research Board The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Limerick Youth Services

This project is funded by the Health Research Board and is subject to annual review in accordance with PPI ethics and protocols. A project Advisory Board, comprising all project partners will oversee the research, meeting quarterly to review its progress.