Parents’ attitudes towards distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

In this article we consider the applicability of distance education on the elementary level from parents’ perspectives and present the limitations stemming from the degree of support that students in elementary education need from their parents. The dilemmas regarding the possible levels of students’ development of independence and self-orientation, and the parents’ roles are highlighted. We believe that due to these limitations, distance learning has some of the characteristics of home-schooling. The subject of the research in the empirical part of this study focused on parents’ attitudes. Parental attitudes, based on a previously established multi-factor model, become clear from the parents’ experiences (Kolak, Markić & Horvat, 2020) where factors regarding the demands of teaching and the competence of parents as substitute teachers, were separated. Parents’ characteristics (e.g., gender, age, educational status and involvement) were found to influence their attitudes. The results of the research indicate the importance of parents in distance learning during the pandemic which adds a new and more significant role in the educational process of their children.