EDUCATION DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN ROMANIA AND ABROAD

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to show the changes underwent by the education system worldwide during covid-19 pandemic both in schools and universities. The education system is undergoing radical changes, with a significant increase in e-learning, distance learning through digital platforms. The main problem with digitizing education is that not all children/students have access to the Internet or do not have the necessary technology. The closure of schools and universities, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, has had negative consequences both on children/students’ educational progress and on their emotional health and, moreover, on their online safety. One of the urgent measures recommended was to support families affected by poverty, so that all children/students participate equally in the online educational process, providing them with digital devices such as laptops and a secure wi-fi connection. After the initial shock, teachers, professors and members of administrative and technical bodies in education systems around the world reacted in a truly extraordinary way, trying to transfer the entire teaching activity to the online environment and, in just a few weeks, to become familiar with the operation of digital platforms such as Zoom, Google Meets and Microsoft Teams, which in most cases they were not even aware of before this crisis. Most of them have adapted surprisingly well to the new systems, appreciating the advantages they bring and trying to quickly overcome the inherent problems. The pandemic also had negative effects on interpersonal relationships, as students/children no longer have the context to work and collaborate as a team to develop a task. An undesirable conclusion is that, regardless of the country, the poorest and most marginalized children are in danger.

Keywords

• education
• covid-19 pandemic
• digitization
• university system
• students
• innovation