Parents’ perception regarding online learning for pre-schoolers during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

In March 2020, nationwide school closure was announced to reduce the spread of novel Coronavirus. Like other countries in the world, a rapid rise of online learning has been observed in Bangladesh in the replacement of traditional face to face learning which caused extra responsibility on parents. This study intended to know parents' perceptions regarding online learning during this pandemic. Parents with 3-5 years old children studying in different English medium schools in Dhaka city were interviewed. Content analysis technique was conducted to analyze parental responses. The results indicate that parents understand and acknowledge the importance of online learning to support the continuity of children's learning process. In general, parents were satisfied with the level of support provided by the school committees but as online learning is a new system so parents described facing challenges with balancing responsibilities, network accessibility, adjustment with online learning, and learning outcomes. The study recommends the need for a larger-scale research for better understanding and evidence. Recommendations from the study further suggest the need for orientations and workshops for parents, capacity development of teachers, and systematic changes at the government level for long-term solutions.