Slovenian Children Lag Behind After Pandemic Fitness Decline
A preliminary analysis of the Sports and Physical Education Card 2026, encompassing data from over 191,240 children and adolescents across 488 schools, indicates a persistent developmental deficit among Slovenian youth following the COVID-19 pandemic. The study reveals that children are progressing at a slower pace than anticipated after a significant drop in physical fitness levels. The research highlights the impact of school closures, reduced movement opportunities, and increased screen time – factors that contributed to a developmental slowdown during the pandemic.
The findings suggest that this deficit has not yet been fully reversed. Gregor Starc, head of the national Sports and Physical Education Card system and a member of the SLOfit research group at the University of Ljubljana Faculty of Sport, cautioned that the consequences of the pandemic are primarily being experienced as a developmental issue by children. Data shows that girls’ motor efficiency remains six percent lower than recorded in the previous year, while boys’ motor efficiency is four percent lower.
The research underscores the need for targeted interventions to address this ongoing challenge within the Slovenian education system.
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“This is a concerning trend that highlights the long-term impact of the pandemic on children’s physical development.”