Challenges Or Benefits? Adopting Online Platforms For Education Purpose In Rural Schools Of Rwanda During COVID-19

Abstract

The pandemic of COVID-19 has emerged the prompt obligation to shift from physical to online classes. The education sector like many other domains of human lives suffered severely from the contagious pandemic of Corona Virus. Thus, to keep educational process running, the entire system was forced to use online platforms from primary to higher education. It is in line with such background that this paper seeks to identify whether the adoption of online platforms and social media for education was beneficial or challenging to rural schools of Rwanda, especially in Musanze district. Moreover, this paper will contribute to maintaining efficient teaching learning means throughout any other related endangering situation. Possible solutions will be identified and proposed to respond to the challenges in place. To collect data, the researchers used both qualitative and quantitative methods. The tools designed to facilitate data collection process include descriptive online survey, and interviews both structured and non-structured. 200 respondents were targeted including learners from primary, secondary, and tertiary education, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders in education. The findings have shown that e-learning and the use of social media in teaching-learning activities from rural schools was not efficiently responsive. In case of future similar crisis, Education stakeholders should take measures that prioritize educational inclusivity.