This is lesson 14 of the second module of EUPress Teacher Training, which covers the macro topic of ‘European Education Area’.
In 2021, schools across the EU have resumed operations after a significant disruption caused by Covid-19. This lesson describes the impact of Covid-19 on the European educational system.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented disruption to Europe’s schools — forcing millions of students into remote or hybrid learning virtually overnight. But as Europe’s classrooms shut down, a 2021 survey reveals that not all education systems were equally prepared, and not all students were equally supported.
The data, presented in an EUPress educational module, shows sharply different approaches across EU countries during lockdown, raising questions about the future of digital preparedness and support for student well-being.
Remote learning: a patchwork response across Europe
The shift to online learning varied significantly between member states:
- Italy was among the countries where almost all classes moved fully online.
- Germany offered one of the lowest rates of remote schooling, with many students reporting mixed or limited disruptions.
- In contrast, France and Romania recorded higher shares of students receiving education in person during lockdowns.
These differences reflected the EU’s limited competence in education policy, leaving each country to improvise its own strategy.
Students: “Supported, but not equally”
When asked whether they felt helpless while doing schoolwork online, most students across Europe reported feeling reasonably supported — but with notable exceptions:
- In Romania, nearly one in four students agreed they felt “helpless” online.
- Elsewhere, the reported feeling of helplessness ranged from 10–20%, suggesting schools managed to ensure basic continuity, even under pressure.
A spike in cyberbullying shows digital safety gap
One alarming trend during lockdown was the rise in cyberbullying:
- Students in Germany, Italy, and other countries reported significantly higher levels of online harassment compared to pre-pandemic.
- The correlation is clear: with learning, socialising, and entertainment all moving online, the risks intensified — exposing gaps in digital safety education and monitoring.
Well-being, brought to the forefront
The pandemic turned student well-being into a priority issue on the European policy agenda for the first time. Reduced social interaction, heightened anxiety, and unequal access to quiet study spaces became urgent concerns across borders. Some of the most vulnerable students saw pre-existing disadvantages — digital, economic, and emotional — deepen further.
