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Behind Boris Johnson’s Schools Push Is Fear of More Economic Pain

  • Parents are bearing much of the economic burden of lockdown
  • Women are doing a disproportionate share of child care at home
Boris Johnson at Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School in Upminster on Aug. 10.

Boris Johnson at Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School in Upminster on Aug. 10.

Photographer: Lucy Young/WPA Pool/Getty Images 

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s pledge to make getting U.K. children back to school a “national priority” has a clear rationale -- it’s the only way to get their parents back to work.

Parents are bearing the brunt of the economic costs of the pandemic as they were forced to look after their children full time under lockdown, official data released this week show.