Access to and demand for online school education during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

• Published in: International journal of educational development Vol. 96; p. 102687
• Main Authors: Akabayashi, Hideo, Taguchi, Shimpei, Zvedelikova, Mirka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2023; The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd
• Subjects: COVID-19; Family background; Japan; Online education; Parental work; COVID-19; J81; Family background; Japan; Online education; Parental work; I24; I28
• ISSN: 0738-0593; 1873-4871; 0738-0593
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2022.102687

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in school closures worldwide, including in Japan, where remote education at schools is underdeveloped. Using a unique panel dataset collected in May and December 2020, we examine the determinants of access to online education at and outside schools and parents’ preference towards at-school online education. We observe that children from more privileged family backgrounds received more at-school as well as outside-school online education. We also find that household income and parent’s educational level are associated with higher demand for at-school online education, while mothers working full-time and fathers in non-regular contracts decreased this demand temporarily. •We analyzed a panel dataset collected in May and December 2020 in Japan.•We examined at-school and outside-school online educational experience.•Children with privileged family backgrounds received more online education.•Pandemic increased online education use outside school for advantaged children.•Parental backgrounds and work styles influence at-school online education demand.