The impact of a mine fire and smoke event on academic outcomes for primary and secondary school students

This study explored how exposure to a mine fire and smoke event influenced students’ academic outcomes. National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy scores for 303 students (aged 7.8-16.2 years) were obtained, along with self-reported event-related distress (Children’s Revised Impact of Events Scale [CRIES-13]). The longitudinal analysis found that adolescent students from more exposed schools, and not younger children, had delayed academic development after the event (14.9 months delay in year 7 (95% CI: 9.4 to 20.5) and 21.5 months in year 9 (95% CI: 13.6 to 29.5). Increased distress (CRIES-13) was not associated with academic delays. Results have implications for understanding the impact of disasters on adolescent school achievement and how educational institutions might respond to reduce this impact.