Data Sheet – Fate of Education In Gaza due to Recurrence of Conflicts and the 2020 COVID 19 Pandemic

Re: “Access to Online Education”

October 2020 – Gaza Strip

Survey Initiand as a research component for IDR2 course as a core requirement for the study of

Mater of International Development – IntD

At RMIT University – Australia – Melbourne

Survey initiated & Prepared by Amani Al Amad – RMIT IntD Master Student – Melbourne Australia

Survey revised and approved by TCC General Manager: Mr. Refaat Sabbah – Ramallah Palestine

Survey Authorized by the Palestinian Ministry of Education and High Education

Survey edited, electronically generated, and conducted by TCC Team – Gaza

Introduction and Objectives

CTT is a nonprofit Education Development Center in Palestine. TCC is the Industry Partner for the research conducted by Amani AL Amad, a Master’s Student at RMIT University- Melbourne Australia.

The survey was constructed upon need to actual data that supports the ministry of education decision to conduct online education for the academic year 2020 – 2021 as a response to the pandemic breakout. The survey aims to exploring the readiness of parents and education schooling institutes to participating in online education through exploring some infrastructure aspects of online education.

A total of 1,000 surveys were distributed to parents, teachers, and administrative educational staff that includes social workers, counselors, and principals. The survey was conducted in October 2020 in Gaza Strip. The survey was distributed electronically upon approval from the ministry of education in Palestine.

Access to the targeted sample was restricted due to schools’ closure, limited accessibility to internet, frequent electricity blackouts, and concerns regarding keeping confidentiality of participants.

Due to these restrictions, a team from TCC was formed and field visits to schools in the 5 governates of Gaza were visited. Targeted samples were approached via phone and / or in person during their presence in schools. The team approached the participants to explain the objective of conducting this survey and assuring confidentiality of information shared.

In the period between Oct 11^th ad Nov 5^th, responses to 867 surveys were received and found valid to be used for statistical data.

Statistical methods appropriate to the nature of the data were used using excel, as an import tool to the collected electronic data. Then after, the results were discussed with skilled analysts from assigned authorities and the final statistical report was written and submitted to Amani on the 9th of November 2020.

Data Analysis (Conducted, calculated and formed by TCC Team) – Revised, rearranged and interpreted by amani

Targeted sample was composed of school principals, teachers, school educational and parents of students in the Gaza Strip.

1. Metadata

Targeted sample was composed of school principals, teachers, school educational and parents of students in the Gaza Strip.

1. Categories of respondent participants

2. Respondents by Province

The Governates	Number of respondents	% of Respondents
Northern Gaza	110	13
Gaza	332	38
Central Gaza – Dair Al Balah	146	17
Khanyounis	172	20
Rafah	107	12
Total	867	100

3. Respondents by Guardian – Family member as the main source of income

Guardian	Number of Respondents	% of Respondents
Family of mother and father	571	66
Single Father Guardian	138	16
Single Mother Guardian	124	14
Family Relative as Guardian	29	3
Shelter / Orphanage	5	1
Total	867	100

2. Specific Data – Content related to Infrastructure of Online Education

1. Respondents by Accessibility to Internet at Home

Accessibility to Internet at Home	Number of Respondents	% of Respondents
With Access to Internet at Home	644	74
With no Access to Internet at Home	223	26
Total	867	100

2. Guardians Responses when asked “What will you do with your children education if schools were operated online for the academic year 2010-2021?”

Guardian’s Decision Regarding Children Online Education in 2020 – 2021	Number of respondents	% of Respondents
Don’t Know what they will do	511	59
Withdraw Children from School in 2020 – 2021. Children will continue school next year when operations go back to regular	191	22
Will buy internet access to one child. Children Will alternate use of internet during school hours as time permits	122	14
Will buy internet connection with access to all children	43	5
Total	867	100

3. Internet Specifications – Competency for Online Education

Internet Specifications	Number of Respondents	% of Respondents
Dial Up Connection	143	22
Internet on Mobile Phone only	106	17
DSL Low Speed	310	48
Fiber High Speed	85	13
Total with access to internet (867 – 223)	644	100

3. Internet Specifications – Competency for Online Education

4. Number of electronic devices connected to the Internet that students can use simultaneously

Number of Devices with Access to Internet Children Can Use for Online Schooling Simultaneously	Number of Respondents	% of Respondents
1 Device	268	41
2 Devices	192	30
3 Devices	83	13
4 Devices	51	8
More than 4 Devices	50	8
Total with access to internet (867 – 223)	644	100

5. Number of children living in the same house who are under the age of 18

Number of children living in the same house who are under the age of 18	Number of Respondents	% of Respondents
1 Child	87	13
2 Children	122	19
3 Children	155	24
4 Children	146	23
More than 4 Children	134	21
Total with access to internet (867 – 223)	644	100

6. Ability of at least 1 adult at home to use the internet to access online education tools

7. Those who are unknowledgeable in accessing online education tools, can you support your children’s online learning with hiring adults to follow up with them?

8. Those who are knowledgeable in accessing online education tools, can you support your children’s online learning with explaining content?

9. Will electricity be a problem to stay connected to online schooling?

10. If electricity is a problem, do you have a private generator replacement?

Number of children living in the same house who are under the age of 18	Number of Respondents	% of Respondents
Solar System	35	5
Private Generator	15	2
Community Generator DS	106	17
UPS Battery Charger	120	19
No Other Options	368	57
Total with access to internet (867 – 223)	644	100

11. Do you receive any support from the ministry of education to assure access to online learning?

12. For those who receive support from the ministry to assure access to online education, choose one or more of the following choices that best describes the support you receive?

Type of Support received from MoEHE to assure access to online education	Number of Respondents	% of Respondents out of 68
Training on using technology	3	4.4
Financial	9	13,2
Printed Self-learning materials, study material, supporting worksheets, learning cards …etc	56	82.3
Supply of electronic devices	9	13.2
Academic Support	40	58.8
Special Services (counseling, therapy … etc.)	8	11.7
68 Total Number of Families Receiving MoEHE Support	125 (Some receive more than 1 service)

3. Challenges faced in which delayed conducting the Survey

1. Communication with staff was difficult due to the lockdown and unavailability of internet caused by long term and frequent blackouts of electricity.
2. Communication with parents was difficult due to closure of schools.
3. The TCC team decided to conduct filed visits, to physically reach staff and parents upon appointment.
4.  illiteracy or limited literacy of parents and many teachers made filling the survey electronically a challenge. Weeks passed by until alternative ways were arranged
5. Limited or absent internet access to many parents and staff members
6. Many parents required one to one assistance in filling the survey, which required time