Exploring the Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Education Divide in Pakistan
Naseem Hyder Rajput *
Department of Education, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Nawabshah, Shaheed Benazirabad, Pakistan.
Narmeen Noonari
Department of Education, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Nawabshah, Shaheed Benazirabad, Pakistan.
Syed Muhammad Ahsan Bukhari
Department of Education, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Nawabshah, Shaheed Benazirabad, Pakistan.
Mehboob Ali Dehraj
Department of Education, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Nawabshah, Shaheed Benazirabad, Pakistan.
Jabbar Abbas Rajput
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences, Nawabshah, Shaheed Benazirabad, Pakistan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The education sector is badly shaken in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic as nationwide closures have impacted 89% of the world’s student population.
Aims and Methodology: This qualitative, exploratory study investigated the impacts of COVID-19 on the prevailing education divide through focus group discussion. Focus group included purposefully selected two teachers (one male & one female), two senior headteachers (one male & one female), two Taluka Education Officers (one male & one female), two Assistant District Education Officers (One male & one female) and two Assistant professors of Education (one male one female). The focus group interviews were conducted from the participants through conference calls.
Results: Focus group discussion results showed that there could be variable impacts of COVID-19 across society, parents, input that students could receive from families during this pandemic, assessment, gender, and schools. These variable impacts could result in further widening of the existing education divide in Pakistan. The major reasons, as highlighted by the participants, are the weak education system and the prevalent digital divide in Pakistan due to the use of online learning resources. It is recommended that the authorities should engage economically sound local elders, Non-Government Organizations and volunteer educated persons to meet the technology-based needs.
Keywords: Impacts, COVID-19, education divide, Pakistan.