Impact Analysis of Education in Emergency (EiE): A Case of Wangduechhoeling Lower Secondary School, Bhutan

Abstract

This paper closely examines the impact of Education in Emergency (EiE) amid the pandemic in Wangduechhoeling Lower Secondary School (WLSS), under Bumthang district, Bhutan. The study also tries to look into how each pupil can exercise a right to learn during the pandemic despite their family background. It touches upon several aspects such as learning progress of the students, learning gaps, and its contingency programs. It further highlights how students’ parents would play a parental role in providing spontaneous learning space and time. And this case study assesses the effectiveness of the implementing EiE programs in the school. Using the central limit theorem (CLT), we analyzed the data from 30 percent of the population (180 students and 90 parents). The findings of the study revealed that most students had responded that online learning was effective. 94.4 percent of the students responded that learning through EiE was effective, and 88.8 percent of the students enjoy EiE lessons. However, 36.6 percent of the students responded that they faced difficulty in using different learning forums. 96.6 percent of the students had textbooks with them, 81.1 percent of teachers assessed tasks given through Television, Radio, Self-Instructional Materials (SIM) lessons. The findings also indicated that 81.6 percent of the parents had been supportive in their children’s learning. Due to emergence of COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent closure of the school, 57.7 percent of students’ interest towards learning was affected. On other hand, the study depicted that 97.7 percent of students were excited to return to school as and when reopens.  In addition, the study revealed that while 64 percent of the students had availed 60 percent special data packages discount, 55.7 percent of them had not availed it.