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.
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 11th ad Nov 5th, 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.
- 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
- 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
- Communication with staff was difficult due to the lockdown and unavailability of internet caused by long term and frequent blackouts of electricity.
- Communication with parents was difficult due to closure of schools.
- The TCC team decided to conduct filed visits, to physically reach staff and parents upon appointment.
- illiteracy or limited literacy of parents and many teachers made filling the survey electronically a challenge. Weeks passed by until alternative ways were arranged
- Limited or absent internet access to many parents and staff members
- Many parents required one to one assistance in filling the survey, which required time
Global Concepts 