Even in the world's richest countries, kids might not have what they need to learn at home

Even in the world’s richest countries, it can’t be taken for granted that children have access to all they need to learn from home.

A computer, somewhere quiet to work and a desk to lean on - as well as the support of parents - isn’t a given, according to data from the OECD, whose member countries and partners represent about 80% of world trade and investment.

The statistics show disparities in the availability of technology and other resources, with fewer than 3 in every 4 US 15-year-olds having access to a desk and an appropriate place to work. With schools in more than 100 countries closed to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, nearly 1 billion children are being home-educated.

Coronavirus-driven school closures can lead to learning loss and exacerbate inequality, but long-term consequences are not inevitable, the World Bank says.

Fostering and encouraging equality of opportunity and social mobility are key questions for policy-makers. The World Economic Forum’s Global Social Mobility Index benchmarks levels of social mobility across 82 economies, and can help identify areas for improvement.

Here are three areas in which the OECD data shows disparities.

1. 13% of students don’t have a quiet place to study

While most children in OECD countries do have access to a desk and a place to study, 13% don’t. The figure is as high as 27% in the US. The nation with the best rating is Switzerland, where 93% of children can access what they need.

2. Computer and internet access

Denmark and Norway top this list, with 98% and 96% of adolescents having a computer for school work and a home internet connection. The OECD average is 89%, but this category has wide disparities, falling to 50% in Mexico and 60% in Japan. The number is as low as 23.5% in Indonesia (not a member of the OECD).

3. Supportive parents aren’t guaranteed

Japan is the country where 15-year-olds say they feel least supported, according to the OECD data, with 82% of respondents saying they have parents who are interested in and supportive of their education. Across the OECD, the average is 90.5%, rising to 95% in Portugal.