Distance Education During Pandemic: 60 Percent of Students Have Difficulties in Internet Access

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The Students' Parents Association (Veli-Der) has announced the findings of a survey it conducted with 400 parents.

In a press briefing in Kadıköy, İstanbul, Veli-Der Chair İlknur Kaya Bahadır said, "Although it is a reality accepted by everyone that distance education cannot replace face-to-face education, it is clear that it is a method that can be applied at extraordinary times, of course, providing that every student has equal and fair access and that it is presented with a scientific content."

She added that they conducted the survey to reveal the problems in distance education and to contribute to the education environment.

Here are some findings of the survey:

Children of 29.7 percent of the participants were at primary school, 34.9 percent were at middle school, 28 percent were at high school, and 7.5 percent were at universities.

87 percent said their children attend distance education classes while 13 percent said their children do not.

34.8 percent of the students attend classes one hour a day, 27.2 percent attend two hours a day, 18.9 percent attend three hours a day and 19.2 percent attend four hours a day.

Problems of the online education system

When asked about what kind of problems they experience, 54.9 percent of the parents said their children were reluctant, 59.9 percent said they had internet access problems and 15 percent said classes were too early.

In open-ended answers to this question, parents also complained about the problems with the ministry's Education İnformatics Network (EBA), such as connection problems, frequent freezing and disconnection and malfunction in some applications within the EBA.

Some also said that their children would play computer games while pretending to be listening to the teacher.

Some parents also complained about other students' distracting behavior and difficulties in controlling them.

Short duration of the classes, too simple course subjects, and constantly changing teachers were also among the problems, according to parents.

The live class application is unproductive according to 69.2 percent of the parents while 30.8 percent said they find it productive.

When asked about how their children's mood was affected during the curfew that has been in place for those younger than 20 since late March, 46 percent said their children were "nervous and angry."

21.9 percent of the parents said their children will enter a central exam for high schools or universities this year. Among them, 65.8 percent said their children were negatively affected by the change in the exam dates.

67.1 percent said the exams should be done after the pandemic is totally controlled.

Inequality between students

The Veli-Der made the following points on the results of the survey:

Distance education can't replace face-to face education

If the inequality continues in distance education, the inequality between state and private schools will further increase.

The decision to do high school and university entrance exams in June is not right.

The state should provide devices and internet access to students in need.

Contents of the classes, which proved to be inadequate, should be prepared in reference to the principle of scientific education. (RT/VK)