Online learning was definitely a challenge for Canadian parents during the pandemic, according to a new study.
That was the feeling of seven in 10 parents with children between ages of six and 17, who were part of an Angus Reid Institute study, in partnership with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Thirty-six per cent of parents said their child’s academic performance worsened over the past two years. Almost half of parents said their child maintained a similar level of performance, while 14 per cent excelled.
Two-thirds of parents said education policy makers did not consider their children’s well-being enough. Parents with younger school-aged children were even more dissatisfied than those with teenagers or children age five and under.
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Despite the difficulties, 66 per cent of parents said their child was coming through the pandemic well, while 29 per cent disagreed.
Two-thirds of parents said the pandemic has been a significant, or severe, disruption to their lives. Thirty per cent of parents said they have tested positive for COVID-19 compared to 17 per cent of those without kids. Parents were also more likely to say that their mental health has worsened than those without children.
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Other findings included:
• 65 per cent of Canadians living with children said the pandemic has brought severe or significant disruption to their lives compared to 55 per cent of those living without children.
• 33 per cent of parents don’t feel like they were surrounded by a good support network.
• 44 per cent of those living with children in their household felt their relationships with friends and family has worsened since March 2020.
• 50 per cent of those living with children in their households felt there have been more bad times than good during the last two years, but 25 per cent of those living with children five and under disagreed. That included one in 20 who described the pandemic as ‘great years.’