CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The corona virus (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease that affects the education system of different income level countries (Wajdi et al., 2020). The United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has been recognized that the coronavirus pandemic outbreak has impacted the education system in the world (UNESCO, 2020b). A lot of pandemics have occurred in human history, and affected human life, education system, and economic development in the world (Editors, 2020).

The World Health Organization (WHO) (WHO, 2020a) on March 11, 2020, has officially announced that coronavirus (COVID-19) is a pandemic after it covers 114 countries in 3 months and infects more than 118,000 people in the world. The first COVID-19 case has reported by Wuhan Municipal Health Commission on December 31, 2019, in the Hubei Province, China (WHO, 2020b).

The coronavirus pandemic is quickly spreading and affecting 213 territories and countries throughout the world. In the world about 30,086,319 of total cases, 21,833,645 of total recovered and 945,962 of total deaths were recorded until September 17, 2020 (Worldometer, 2020).

According to (Medical News Today, 2020), the researchers believe that coronavirus is spreading exponentially and many countries are locked in their education system, and enforcing their people strict quarantine to control the spread of this highly contagious disease.

The governments focus on fulfilling equipment, organizing medical institutions, and laboratory centers, identification of the virus, training health workers, and creating awareness for their people (Haleem et al., 2020). Education has been the pillar of development of every country, so education is principal to the development and growth of all countries. The education system has been affected by several challenges ranging from changes in the education curriculum to closing down the education system due to widespread pandemic diseases (Owusu-Fordjour et al., 2015).

As UNESCO (UNESCO, 2020b) reports that 87% of the world’s student population is affected by COVID-19 school closures. UNESCO is launching distance learning practices and reaching students who are most at risk. According to the UNESCO, over 1.5 billion students in 195 countries are affected by COVID-19 pandemic school closures.

In (Niranjan, 2020) studied that COVID-19 impacted not only the overall economy and our day to day life, but also emotional, mental, and physical health, also, losses in national and international business, poor cash flow in the market, locked national and international traveling; moreover, disruption of the celebration of cultural, and festive events, stress among the population, the closures of hotels, restaurants, religious, and entertainment places (Evans, 2020).

In many developing countries the economic shock has come first, as governments have locked down their economies to reduce the speed of infection. As a result, developing countries are suffering their greatest economic decline and closures of their education and transportation system (Haleem et al., 2020).

Distance learning solutions are containing platforms, educational applications, and resources that aimed to help parents, students, and teachers. Digital learning management systems, massive open online course platforms, and self-directed learning content (UNESCO, 2020a).

However, due to lack of internet connectivity, information technology, educational materials, and digital technology skill distance learning is difficult for teachers, students, and families in developing countries (Mustafa, 2020).

Some developing countries deliver classes through radio, television, and online platforms. However, the poorest families and students have not radio, television, and other devices to access the resources and to learn at their home. So, some developing countries provide resources such as textbooks, radios, equipment, and study guides to the poorest students (Mustafa, 2020).

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

COVID-19 pandemic have led to closures of schools, training institutes and higher education facilities in most countries. There is a paradigm shift in the way educators deliver quality education. Lack of parental guidance, especially for young learners, is another challenge, as both parents are working.

There are practical issues around physical workspaces conducive to different ways of learning. The innately motivated learners are relatively unaffected in their learning as they need minimum supervision and guidance, while the vulnerable groups consisting of students who are weak in learning face difficulties.

Some academically competent learners from economically disadvantaged background are unable to access and afford online learning. The level of academic performance of the students is likely to drop for the classes held for both year-end examination and internal examination due to reduced contact hour for learners and lack of consultation with teachers when facing difficulties in learning/understanding.

Finally, several researches has been carried out on the impacts of covid 19 pandemic in schools but not even a single research has been carried out on covid 19, precautions, its adherence and its implication on the primary schools.

1. AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim and objectives of the study is to examine the covid 19, precautions, its adherence and its implication on the primary schools. Other specific objectives of the study include:

1. to determine the factors affecting the precaution, adherence and implication of covid 19 in schools.
2. to determine the extent to which covid 19 pandemic affects the day to day running of the school.
3. to determine the effect of covid 19 precaution, adherence and implication in schools.
4. to proffer possible solutions to the problems.

1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1      What are the factors affecting the precaution, adherence and implication of covid 19 in schools?

2      What is the extent to which covid 19 pandemic affects the day to day running of the school?

3      What is the effect of covid 19 precaution, adherence and implication in schools?

4      What are the possible solutions to the problems?

1. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Ho:  Covid 19 precaution, adherence and implication have no significant effect on primary schools.

Hi:   Covid 19 precaution, adherence and implication have a significant effect on primary schools.

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on covid 19 precaution, adherence and its implication on the primary schools will be of immense benefit  COVID-19 pandemic is that teachers and students/ learners should be oriented on use of different online educational tools. After the COVID-19 pandemic when the normal classes resume, teachers and learners should be encouraged to continue using such online tools to enhance teaching and learning.

1. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study on covid 19 precaution, its adherence and its implication is limited to the primary school.

1. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

TIME CONSTRAINTS: One the challenges experienced by the researcher is the issue of time; the research will simultaneously engage in departmental activities like seminars and attendance to lectures. But the researcher was able to meet up with the deadline for the submission of the project.

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS: Every research work needs funding; however lack of adequate funds might affect the speed of the researcher in getting materials for completion of the project.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Precautions:   A measure taken in advance to prevent something dangerous, unpleasant, or inconvenient from happening.

Adherence:      Attachment or commitment to a person, cause, or belief.

Implication:    The conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated.

Covid 19:         Is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.