Correlates of Parents’ Readiness towards In-person Schooling among Senior High School Students during COVID-19 Pandemic in Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person schoolings has been allowed since July 2021, especially for senior high schools. However, school clusters of COVID-19 happened in Central Java Province. This study aimed to analyze factors correlated to parents’ readiness toward in-person schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted for 2 weeks on June-July 2021. The population was parents with senior high school students in Central Java Province. The questionnaire's link was shared through Education Office’s parents’ networks throughout Central Java. There were 1,520 respondents participated. Most respondents permit their children to in-person schooling (75.66%). Respondents were from 14 cities in Central Java, and most of them were from Pemalang (41.1%). Most respondents have good knowledge of COVID-19 (73.3%), good perception of COVID-19 (59.4%), high self-efficacy (57.2%), and sufficient parents’ readiness (64.4%). The Chi-Square test showed that education level (p=0.000), occupation (p=0.008), city of origin (p=0.000), and self-efficacy (p=0.000) were correlated to parents’ readiness. The multivariate analysis showed that education level (OR=1.246), occupation (OR=0.683), city of origin (OR=1.032), and self-efficacy (OR=1.263) affecting parents’ readiness. After controlling the education level, occupation, and city of origin, self-efficacy remains contributing to parents’ readiness for in-person schooling.