According to a survey conducted by the consumer protection association at the end of June, most of the 537 parents surveyed did not positively evaluate the new teaching model imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In mid-March, the government decided to close all educational establishments as a way to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, and all students, from pre-school to higher education, went home.

In the case of basic education, the children could not return to school and the 3rd period was spent at a distance, with classes 'online' and teachers on a screen.

For some parents with children in the 1st cycle, the new teaching model was unsatisfactory and the 537 in charge surveyed by Deco gave an average score of 5.8 on a scale from 0 to 10.

According to the results published by the association, the support given to children with special educational needs was the one that received a more negative evaluation by the families (2.5 out of 10), and only 5 percent of the parents reported some work in this direction.

Among the less satisfactory aspects, the parents also mentioned the tasks proposed by the teachers and the classes by videoconference with other teachers besides the holder.

On the other hand, videoconferencing classes and videos recorded by the head teacher were the most positive aspects mentioned, followed by television classes on RTP Memória and the additional support given by the teachers, which deserved an average rating of 5.8 and 5.5 out of 10, respectively.

On the part of the children, the experience of distance learning did not seem particularly positive and while the homesickness of schools and friends was felt by most, the ease of following the activities was little.

According to the survey results, only a quarter of children in the 1st cycle were happy with the change and 84 percent would admit missing school, while 91 percent expressed the same feeling towards their peers.

On the other hand, only one-third of students found it easy to concentrate during online classes, which they attended during the 3rd period at home mostly through the computer, and to work independently with the digital platforms.

Even so, the majority (81 percent) did all the proposed tasks which, according to 40 percent of parents, were more numerous than what teachers usually propose, but only half managed to do it alone.

In total, 72 percent of parents said that their children needed additional help, mainly to clarify doubts during the autonomous study, but also with explanations on the subject and guidance to follow the daily lesson plan.

About half of the parents also admitted that learning at home was more difficult for the children, who mostly expressed concern about the final evaluation.

The next school year begins between 14 and 17 September and by then students will be able to return to school and face-to-face teaching, which will be the face-to-face regime during the three school terms.

Should the epidemiological situation push students home again, the priority will be to maintain, whenever possible, the 1st and 2nd cycles in schools.