Teachers and students

the impact of the covid-19 pandemic from the perspective of teachers

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives: The study aimed to understand the socio-emotional conditions of public elementary school students and teachers throughout the pandemic, starting from the perspective of teachers from a municipality in the São Paulo state. Methods: This is an exploratory study with a qualitative approach, with sixteen teachers from Elementary School I from the public education network in a municipality in the São Paulo participating. Participants responded to a semi-structured interview that addressed the different moments of the pandemic. The data were analyzed using the Collective Subject Discourse method. Results: The results revealed the increase in some vulnerabilities such as unemployment, the loss of close family members and their impacts, and also greater exposure of children to situations of domestic violence. In relation to the teachers themselves, the study revealed that the abrupt break in contact impacted the mental health of the interviewees by requiring them to adapt to new technologies and increasing their work overload. The need for support, training and effective strategies to deal with the complexities imposed by the pandemic in the educational context is discussed. The gap in listening to teachers was highlighted, showing the importance of listening to them in person at that moment. Conclusions: It is considered that this study contributes not only to the in-depth understanding of socio-emotional conditions during the pandemic, but also adds elements about the crucial role of the school as a context of protection and development. The results offer valuable elements for future interventions and educational policies.