Homeschooling in the Covid-19 shutdown; changes to parental commitment. A comparative study in the UK and Vietnam.

Education for Social Justice

This is a comparative study between parents and teachers in the UK and Vietnam. The research is exploring parents’ experiences and perceptions of homeschooling their child/children and teachers’ experiences and perceptions of remote working and online teaching during the Covid-19 school shutdown.

As a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic, schools across the globe were forced to close temporarily as most governments introduced measures which took their country into lockdown in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus. The schools’ shutdown occurred in Vietnam in mid-February 2020 and in the UK in late-March, 2020. In the UK, only a few children were able to continue attending school; those identified as vulnerable or whose parents/guardians are key workers. Teachers attended school typically worked on a rota basis to cover classes in school on some days. Schools have operated in different ways but typically teachers have been expected to provide schoolwork for their pupils to be undertaken at home. As such, teachers and pupils have had to adapt very quickly to new ways of teaching and learning at a distance. The project adopts a mixed methods approach with an online survey and remote interviews. Data generated are currently being analysed.

Lead researcher

Dr Jim Pugh

Director - Inst. Of Ed. - Assoc Prof.

I am proud to be the Director of the Institute of Education leading an innovative group of professionals, educators, researchers and working with our creative and exciting students, partners and community.

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Associated researchers

Professor Gillian Forrester

Professor Of Education Policy

I lead the Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD), which is a vibrant research degree programme for professional educators. I supervise doctoral students (PhD and EdD) and I am involved in several externally funded research projects.

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Dr Ruth Hudson

P/T Lecturer (Hrly)- Education

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Dr Jo Basford

Course Director Assoc Prof

Education is transformative. It enables us to see the world differently, to challenge our thinking and to try new things. My ambition is that student’s learning with the Institute of Education will be a transformative experience.

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Collaborators and funding

In collaboration with Apollo Education, a company owned by the British University of Vietnam.

With funding support from the UK Government QR (Quality-related) Global Challenges Research Fund.