In the wake of the study-from-home model of schooling, Brainly, the world’s largest online learning platform, has examined the evolved role and response of Indian parents regarding their wards’ education through its latest survey. The key highlights from the survey say that parents have adapted to the new, online-assisted model of learning. The Brainly survey has identified the Indian parents’ evolved perspective towards tech-assisted learning accessed by their wards as a prominent trend. On being asked whether their parents are comfortable with the hybrid model of education which combines virtual instruction with assistance from online learning resources, 64% of the surveyed students replied in the affirmative.

This marks a shift in the sensibilities of Indian parents in sync with the increasing role of technology in facilitating education in the post-pandemic era. Previously, children were assumed to be spending recreational time over the smartphone and the internet. The new trend suggests that Indian parents are now more at ease with the fact that their children are using digital devices and the internet to learn and multiply their minds, besides engaging in recreational activities. 

The survey also says that parents are more involved in their children’s education as compared to pre-pandemic times. A majority (60%) of the surveyed students reported increased involvement of their parents in their education after the viral outbreak when the schooling model witnessed a paradigm shift to reach out to the students digitally. The finding suggests that parents are increasingly managing triple roles in the post-pandemic landscape. Besides managing their professional and domestic responsibilities, work-from-home (WFH) parents are also making time to support their children on their learning journeys in different ways. They are assisting their children during the online classes (31%), helping with the homework and assignments (22%), or making the students learn experientially (16%).

Around 8 percent of students said that their parents are helping them in other manners such as by encouraging them to explore more things, offering mental and emotional support, addressing doubts and queries, helping with activities, or by finding tutoring or coaching courses.

Parents are taking assistance from online learning platforms to help their children study from home. Top three subjects in which students need help from their parents include Maths (35%), English (19%), and Science (17%). Social Sciences (History, Civics, and Geography) follow close on the heels of these subjects at 13%. Interestingly, the survey also found that Indian parents (57%) are accessing the help of online learning platforms to aid their children’s learning journeys.

Speaking on this trend, Rajesh Bysani, Chief Product Officer at Brainly, said, “Earlier, parents were dependent on annual or bi-annual parent-teacher meetings to get insights into their wards’ strengths and weaknesses. However, since learning from home started, I have been able to witness my child’s learning journey up close. Against this backdrop, online learning platforms have emerged as key assistance tools for students to enrich their understanding of topics and subjects they either struggle with or are curious about. More and more parents are using online tools and services to look up facts, acquire or recall essential information to better tutor their children.”

Also Read: 53% Indian students comfortable with online learning: survey