The Croatian education system responded well to the coronavirus pandemic and most children and young people are doing well but a significant portion, notably girls, need systematic mental and social health support, show the findings of a research project presented in Zagreb on Tuesday.

The negative impact of the pandemic at the individual level has been gradually waning, while some of the negative consequences of the pandemic on school experiences persist and need to be addressed, shows the research, presented at the closing conference of the project EWAchange: Growing up in the (post) pandemic time – experiences from Croatia.

The research, conducted in May and June 2021 and 2022 covered 167 schools – 84 primary and 83 secondary schools, with 8,861 education workers and 43,495 students.

The project shows waning of the negative impact if the pandemic – 37% of students who were sixth-graders in June 2021 said that the pandemic had impacted them negatively, with the percentage going down to 30% in 2022, said EWAchange project head Boris Jokic.

As regards secondary school students, 46% of those who in 2021 were in their sophomore year said that the pandemic had negatively impacted their life, while the percentage among the same respondents in 2022 was 43%.

Around 39% of students in their junior year of high school said the impact of the pandemic on their relationship with their close friends was positive while close to 37% described as positive the impact of the pandemic on their relationship with their family members.

Pandemic negatively affected mental health

As many as 36% of students said the pandemic had negatively impacted their mental health.

Girls were much more critical regarding the pandemic and mental health. In June 2021 close to 57% of girls in their sophomore year had a negative attitude as against 35% of male students, and in 2022 the percentage among girls was 46% and among boys 25%.

Students in the higher grades of primary school, aged 12-13, had a more critical view of school experiences and educational outcomes during the pandemic in 2022 than in 2021.

The percentage of sixth- and seventh-graders who said the pandemic had negatively impacted their work ethic grew significantly, and there was also a slight increase in the share of those whose motivation to study had been affected by the pandemic.

A significant portion of them believe their school experiences had a negative impact on their understanding of the educational content.

Among high school students, the pandemic had no such effect, with assessments being almost identical between students of two different years, while in some aspects they were even less critical.

Older students experienced more depression, anxiety

All assessments in all three generations regarding their satisfaction with their health, life, the way they spend their free time and school performance, are above the average.

“In other words, one can say and children and young people in Croatia are relatively satisfied, primarily with their health,” Jokic said.

The research also shows that the older the students, the higher the level of depression and anxiety, while it is relatively or very low among fifth-graders.

Fifth- and seventh-grade primary school students as well as students in their junior year in high school are most concerned about the war in Ukraine, followed by climate change.

Close to 93% of high school students in their junior year believe that one should usually and almost always be cautious in contact with other people.

Of all the countries covered by the research, the level of trust was lower only in Russia and Bulgaria.