How is the COVID-19 class of 2021 doing? Rick has suppressed 'all that fuss,' Emin lost fifty kilos, Koen is cycling to Japan, and Julia looks back 'not gloomily'

Five years after graduating under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, four former students from vmbo-4 at the Guido school in Arnhem reflect on their experiences. Julia Eversdijk, now 20, apped back enthusiastically, noting she had recently reread articles from five years prior and felt like a "puppy" back then. Emin Güler, also 20, reported that things are going well, acknowledging life's twists and turns, which he believes everyone experiences between fifteen and twenty.

Rick Dijkhuizen, 21, stated that much has happened, but he is doing "incredibly well." Koen Groenewoud, 22, finds participating again "a bit complicated" as he is currently cycling solo from Arnhem to Japan. NRC followed the class in 2021 with photographer Dieuwertje Bravenboer to document the challenges of taking final exams during the pandemic and how the measures shaped this generation.

Despite strict rules like 1.5-meter distancing, staying in one's seat, and wearing masks in hallways, the class managed to pass their exams. However, an outbreak in early spring led to eleven classmates and their biology teacher being infected after a father contracted the virus, resulting in the entire class being sent home. Emin and Julia pursued higher general secondary education (HAVO), Koen enrolled in vocational training for security, and Rick chose a path to become an independently working hospitality professional.

The article notes that parliamentary inquiries into the government's pandemic policy will soon address the damage incurred by students and young people due to school closures. Learning outcomes across all levels and subjects declined, widening the gap between students who received home support and those who did not. While the government allocated 8.5 billion euros to address learning deficits and inequality, results have been mixed. Primary education results have returned to pre-pandemic levels, but reading literacy and vocabulary in lower secondary education continue to decline. Math and calculation skills also remain below pre-pandemic levels, particularly in vocational tracks. Furthermore, the mental health of children and adolescents has not fully recovered, with increased feelings of loneliness and depression reported during and after the pandemic.

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Leuk!