Parents are less likely to be scared of pandemic than their child illiteracy: 93% support face to face instruction; three-quarters say that the remote learning has a lower quality.
MOSCOW, September 08, 2020 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a study devoted to the educational format parents would choose for their children as well as what they think about school safety measures.
An absolute majority of Russians whose children or grandchildren go to school (93%) agree that students should go back to traditional schools. They consider that face-to-face learning facilitates communication and socialization (30%), provides a better quality of education (20%), gives more knowledge (17%), a direct contact with a teacher (16%); besides that parents cannot teach their children as teachers do (14%).
Four percent of Russians think that children should go on distance learning. They say that at home the possibility to contract coronavirus is lower (69%); there is more control and discipline (17%), or that they just prefer remote learning (12%).
Sixty-eight percent of Russians believe that distance learning has more disadvantages. According to 25%, there are as many advantages as disadvantages; those who think so are mainly parents of high school students (36%).
A shift to distance learning has had a bad impact on the quality of learning; 74% of parents think so (often those who live in metropolitan areas (86%)). Every tenth believes that a new format of learning has had no impact on the learning process.
As far as safety measures are concerned, three-quarters of parents consider that schools are capable of providing a safe environment (76%). They are opposed by 15% represented mainly by metropolitan residents (19%).
Most Russians whose children go to school say that if safety precautions are observed the risks of contracting the coronavirus in schools is nonexistent or really small (7% and 72% respectively). Sixteen percent of Russians point to considerable risk; they are predominantly inhabitants of large cities such as capitals (22%) and million-plus cities (20%). Eight percent of Russians are afraid that their children might contract the coronavirus; 54% are somewhat afraid (mainly parents of high school children — 64%). Every fourth respondent is confident that nothing bad will happen (23%); every seven respondent has not pondered over that (14%).
Russian VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on August 27, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. A stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone number was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
There are different viewpoints concerning the format of school teaching starting from September 1st. Some people consider that students should continue distance learning (online learning). Others say that it is better to get back to the traditional face-to-face learning. Which opinion do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those whose children/grandchildren go to school — 47%) | ||||
| Total respondents | Grades 1 -4 | Grades 5 -9 | Grades 10 — 11 |
It is better to continue distance learning | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
It is better to get back to the traditional face-to-face learning | 93 | 94 | 92 | 89 |
Don’t know | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Why do you think that it is better for children to continue distance learning? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those whose children/grandchildren go to school and who think that it is better to continue distance learning — 4%) | |
| Total respondents |
Little likelihood of them contracting the coronavirus | 69 |
More control and discipline at home | 17 |
I prefer this format | 12 |
Other | 14 |
Don’t know | 6 |
Why do you think that it is better for children to get back to the traditional face-to-face learning? (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those whose children/grandchildren go to school and who think that it is better to get back to the face-to-face learning - 44%; shown are answers of at least 7% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Communication/ socialization | 30 |
Better quality of education | 20 |
More knowledge | 17 |
Direct contact with a teacher | 16 |
Parents cannot teach children as teachers do | 14 |
No technical opportunity for distance learning | 9 |
Children do nothing when they learn distantly | 9 |
Discipline | 8 |
Not enough control at home | 7 |
Parents are busy with their work; they cannot help their children | 7 |
Other | 24 |
Don’t know | 2 |
In your opinion, does distance learning have more advantages or disadvantages, more disadvantages or advantages, or equally? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those whose children/grandchildren go to school — 47%) | ||||
| Total respondents | Grades 1 -4 | Grades 5 -9 | Grades 10 — 11 |
More advantages | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
More disadvantages | 68 | 70 | 69 | 59 |
Equally | 25 | 23 | 23 | 36 |
Don’t know | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
In your opinion, has the transition of your school to distance learning had impact on the quality of education for your child? If so, has the quality improved or worsened? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those whose children/grandchildren go to school — 47%) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St Petersburg | Million-plus cities | 500-950,000 inhabitants | 100–500,000 inhabitants | <100,000 | Rural area |
No impact | 12 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 13 | 14 |
Better quality | 4 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Worse quality | 74 | 86 | 73 | 66 | 78 | 76 | 70 |
Don’t know | 10 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 13 |
In your opinion, is the school your child/grandchild attends capable of providing safety precautions against the coronavirus? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those whose children/grandchildren go to school — 47%) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St Petersburg | Million-plus cities | 500-950,000 inhabitants | 100–500,000 inhabitants | <100,000 | Rural area |
Likely yes | 76 | 78 | 78 | 77 | 74 | 73 | 77 |
Likely no | 15 | 19 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 14 |
Don’t know | 9 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 9 |
Some people say that even if safety precautions and social distancing in schools are observed the risks of contracting the coronavirus are high. Others believe that there is a risk but it is low. And still others consider that there is no risk. Which opinion do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those whose children/grandchildren go to school — 47%) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St Petersburg | Million-plus cities | 500-950,000 inhabitants | 100–500,000 inhabitants | <100,000 | Rural area |
There is no risk of contracting the coronavirus | 7 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
There is a small risk | 72 | 59 | 68 | 75 | 73 | 73 | 75 |
There is a high risk | 16 | 22 | 20 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 11 |
Don’t know / I cannot assess it | 5 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
Are you afraid that your children/grandchildren can contract the coronavirus when going in school? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those whose children/grandchildren go to school — 47%) | ||||
| Total respondents | Grades 1 -4 | Grades 5 -9 | Grades 10 — 11 |
Very much afraid | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
Somewhat afraid | 54 | 53 | 55 | 64 |
I am confident it will not happen | 23 | 24 | 21 | 19 |
I have not thought about that | 14 | 11 | 15 | 9 |
Children/grandchildren have already had COVID-19 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Don’t know | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.