Challenges of distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Educational experiences in Poland in relation to Belgium, France, Greece from the perspective of the KEEP project

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and organisational changes in education, such as periodic school closings, the introduction of distance learning, and the introduction of hybrid learning, shook the education systems in many countries around the world. During this crisis, society needed time to introduce changes and adapt to them, along with rebuilding the self-confidence of teachers and students. This article presents 4 challenges faced by the education sector in the pandemic: 1) How to ensure appropriate conditions for distance learning? 2) How to prevent school absenteeism and keep children and teenagers motivated to learn remotely? 3) How to maintain learning levels and monitor educational losses? 4) What remedial programmes to introduce? These challenges are discussed in the context of the experience of the Polish education system from the perspective of data collected in 4 European countries (Belgium, France, Greece, and Poland) while implementing the KEEP project under the Erasmus + programme, which focuses on methods of keeping secondary school students engaged in the learning process by using digital practices and tools tested during the pandemic. The project is also expected to result in supporting teachers' professional development and developing their digital pedagogical competencies.