ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES, CHALLENGES AND COPING STRATEGIES IN COVID-19 SITUATION: A CASE STUDY ON A RURAL SECONDARY SCHOOL IN BANGLADESH

Kalyani  Bain

doi:10.53808/KUS.SI.2023.ICSSI93-ss

Authors

Kalyani Bain Education Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna - 9208, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53808/KUS.SI.2023.ICSSI93-ss

Keywords:

COVID-19, Academic experience, Challenges, Coping strategies, Secondary school

Abstract

The first case of the COVID-19 virus in Bangladesh was confirmed on March 8, 2020 and due to this pandemic the government announced closure of all educational institutions on March 17, 2020. This study aimed to investigate the academic experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of a secondary school situated in a rural region of Bangladesh. For this study, a case study within a qualitative framework was conducted. Interviews of all the teachers and interviews as well as focus group discussion (FGD) of twenty-four students who were selected by convenience sampling were undertaken. This study finds that the entire academic experience was extremely hard and new for both teachers and students. They experienced a sense of alienation during the school closure. In September 2020, online classes started but both teachers and students encountered a variety of obstacles, such as lack of proper devices and required skill-sets, excessive cost of mobile data, poor network. The institution also tried assignment method which was challenging as it was a completely new task. The school resumed partially on September 12, 2021, with a reduced number of active school days. All the participants felt that partial resuming did not enable effective learning. This study also finds that both teachers and learners have tried several coping strategies. Teachers have assisted one another and contacted with the students through phone calls and in-person visits. Students also sought help from their family-members and peers. This study has implications for policymakers, teachers and learners. Policymakers can mitigate future extreme circumstances by fixing network faults, offering financial aid to teachers and students, and organizing skill-building programs. Teachers and learners from schools with similar context can consider coping strategies like asking for assistance from peers and family members, being innovative for getting connected with each other for continuing academic activities during tough time.

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