IMPACT OF COVID 19 ON PRIMARY EDUCATION IN UZO UWANI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE

Resumen

This study sought to ascertain the impact COVID-19 on primary education in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State. The specific objectives were to: examine the extent of academic negligence suffered by primary school pupils during the C0VID-19 lockdown, examine the extent to which primary school pupils were abused and neglected during the COVID-19 lockdown and the extent to which the lockdown affected the digital literacy of primary school pupils. The study used the survey approach. The study covered the sixty (60) primary schools in the local government area. The primary source was the administration of questionnaire to teachers, pupils, and parents drawn from the selected schools. Out of a population of six thousand three hundred and eighty-three (6383), 688 teachers, pupils and parents were sampled. The sample size was chosen after applying the Freund and William’s formula for determining sample size. Out of 688 respondents, 510 returned the questionnaire accurately filled. The hypotheses were tested using a z-test. The criterion mean is 2.50. Any grand mean of 2.50 and above on the 4-point scale was considered as a high level of competence, while the same below 2.50 was considered a low level of competence. The empirical results show that COVID19 impacted primary education in Uzo Uwani badly. It kept the children out of school and posed a serious threat to their health and safety. Based on the findings, recommendations were made regarding how to continue the education and protection of the little ones during the COVID-19 era.