Online Classes and Parents of Private School Students: An Exploration of Challenges

Author(s) : Mamoona Riasat & Muhammad Shahid Farooq

Abstract:

The situation of COVID-19 and online classes made parents a bit panic. This paper aims to identify the challenges faced by the parents of students studying in private sector schools during online classes. The current research was an effort to explore the situation and challenges that parents faced during the pandemic regarding online classes. It is an exploratory qualitative research under the shade of interpretive paradigm. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview protocol consisting of an open ended question and some probing questions. Parents of students (36 respondents) from Grade I-VIII were selected for the interviews. The study was delimited to only those parents whose children were receiving online classes for more than two months. Data collected from interviews were analyzed by using thematic analysis technique. The themes extracted from responses of parents are: stress level, financial and technical constraints, time management and rejection. The results show that the availability of the gadgets and online access were serious challenges for the parents. Parents were unable to contribute to online classes of their children smoothly due to other allied prerequisites. It is recommended that the awareness and readiness to meet such situations may be made available for masses. 

Key words: COVID-19, online classes, ICT usage, private schools, online access, parents and challenges.