Parents’ Views on Family Resiliency in Sustainable Remote Schooling during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Finland

Abstract

<p>The closure of schools because of the COVID-19 pandemic created a challenge for families<br />and teachers in supporting children’s remote schooling. This study investigates parents’ perspectives<br />on their accommodation to the rapid change to remote schooling from the point of view of sustainable<br />education. The study was conducted at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020<br />via an online questionnaire for parents, to which 316 voluntary participants responded. Data were<br />analyzed using a theory-driven content analysis. According to the results, parents were worried about<br />the learning and wellbeing of their children as well as management of daily life and use of information<br />and communications technology (ICT). The results show the importance of schools and teachers as<br />well as networks in supporting family resilience during rapid changes. Families’ individual needs<br />should be acknowledged and met in a sustainable way to support children’s learning in changing<br />settings, including remote schooling.<br /></p>