COVID-19, EdTech, and Survey Alignment in Education

This report provides a thematic analysis of surveys that were used during the first few months of the COVID-19 response in low- and middle-income contexts and suggests a list of research questions related to education that could be used across surveys to strengthen alignment and comparability. 

A review of surveys led to the identification of five themes and fifteen second-level themes. The five main themes identified in the surveys were: support, challenges, school-reopening preparations, COVID-19 household experiences, and government responses to COVID-19 education challenges. The second-level themes included, for example, support for learning, support for adults, parenting and EdTech obstacles. Identifying these themes led to a set of common research questions that could be explored using the surveys, which were then shortlisted down to nine questions that were considered as most relevant for future research.

Further analysis of more surveys will be undertaken in order to further identify research gaps and opportunities. The presentation of standardised survey questions to conduct a comparative analysis of responses in low- and middle- income countries will be continually reviewed and adapted to ensure that data is being collected in the areas of most need.