Assignment Name: Rapid Qualitative Assessment of COVID-19 Impacts Due to School Closure Among Most Marginalized Children & Adolescents

Country: Bangladesh

Client Name: UNICEF Bangladesh

DM WATCH LIMITED, in collaboration with UNICEF Bangladesh, conducted a comprehensive qualitative assessment titled “Rapid Qualitative Assessment of COVID-19 Impacts Due to School Closure Among Most Marginalized Children & Adolescents in Bangladesh.” This study aimed to evaluate the multifaceted challenges faced by marginalized children and adolescents due to the 18-month-long school closures—one of the longest in the world—caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The overall purpose of this rapid qualitative assessment was to provide detailed narrative data on the range of impacts of COVID-19 related school closures on the most marginalized children and adolescents in Bangladesh. The study complemented an independent quantitative study by providing detailed narratives in line with the study objectives and scopes. These two separate studies together help UNICEF, and the Government of Bangladesh not only to understand the impact of prolonged school closure on child learning loss, return/drop-out rates as well as experiences with child marriage, child labour, trafficking, violence, and other harmful practices; but also identify and recommend policy gaps for potential solutions.

The specific objectives of this study included:

• To understand the perceived impact on children’s learning level and loss amongst children themselves and their families.
• To understand the push and pull factors for school drop-out among boys and girls and the potential solutions or avenues for re-enrolment.
• To document the experiences of the most marginalized boy and girl children in terms of child labour, violence, marriage, human trafficking and other harmful practices during the 18-month school closure and post-school opening period.
• To understand the psychosocial impact of prolonged school closure on the well-being of children, considering any differences in experience among the target groups.

The project focused on understanding the educational, psychosocial, and socio-economic impacts on target groups, including children and adolescents with disabilities, those residing in urban slums, disaster-prone, and climate-affected areas, as well as Rohingya children and adolescents living in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. Data collection covered 22 districts, 12 City Corporations, and 9 Rohingya camps across 8 Divisions in Bangladesh.

To ensure a comprehensive understanding, different qualitative data collection tools were prepared for this study. These included In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) with children, adolescents, and caregivers, Child-Friendly Participatory Assessment Workshops (CFPAWs) with children, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with school teachers and government officials.

The methodology employed for this study involved face-to-face interactions using the aforementioned tools. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique, with data sourced from ongoing quantitative studies, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, and local CSOs and NGOs. The age range for the study participants was 6-9 years for children and 10-19 years for adolescents.

The findings from the assessment were documented in two separate reports. The first report covered the national level, addressing the impacts on children and adolescents with disabilities, those living in urban slums, and those in disaster-prone and climate-affected areas. This report was structured into four main chapters: background, methodology, findings and analysis, and conclusion, with relevant documents annexed. The second report focused on the Rohingya camps, detailing the unique challenges faced by Rohingya children and adolescents. It followed the same structural format, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the study’s scope and outcomes.

In addition to the reports, the project produced two policy briefs tailored to the specific needs and findings related to the different target groups. Furthermore, six storytelling video interviews were created, capturing personal narratives and experiences during the school closures. These outputs provided valuable insights into the severe educational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic among marginalized children and adolescents in Bangladesh.

The project’s findings have been instrumental in informing policy decisions and interventions aimed at mitigating the adverse effects and facilitating educational recovery for these vulnerable populations. The assessment highlighted the critical need for targeted support and resources to address the educational and psychosocial challenges faced by marginalized children and adolescents during the pandemic.

DM WATCH executed this project with a comprehensive and well-structured methodology. The services provided included:

Inception & Planning:

• Conducted a thorough desk review of existing literature and frameworks, including UNICEF guidelines and national policies.
• Developed a detailed inception report outlining methodologies, data collection tools, ethical considerations, and work plans.
• Secured ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and approval from the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC).

Development of Tools:

• Designed and finalized qualitative data collection tools, including checklists for in-depth interviews (IDIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and child-friendly participatory assessment workshops (CFPAWs).
• Translated tools into accessible formats to accommodate diverse participants, including children and adolescents with disabilities.

Capacity Building:

• Conducted rigorous training sessions for field teams on research ethics, child safeguarding protocols, and the use of data collection tools.
• Pre-tested tools in selected locations to refine wording, sequencing, and framing.

Data Collection:

• Conducted 298 IDIs, 38 KIIs, 16 FGDs, and 16 case studies with children, caregivers, and teachers in diverse geographic contexts, including urban slums, disaster-prone districts, and Rohingya refugee camps.
• Utilized participatory methods to ensure inclusivity and sensitivity to children’s perspectives.

Ethical Oversight & Quality Assurance:

• Ensured adherence to ethical research standards, prioritizing confidentiality and dignity for all participants.
• Implemented rigorous quality assurance measures, including tool pre-testing and real-time data validation.

Documentation of Experiences:

• Developed story-telling videos, still photographs, and text-based case studies to capture nuanced experiences of marginalized children.
• Produced 6 narrative videos, providing visual documentation of key findings.

Data Management and Analysis:

• Transcribed and coded qualitative data using software and thematic analysis techniques.
• Employed triangulation methods to validate findings across different data sources.

Reporting:

• Prepared two detailed reports with structured chapters covering background, methodology, findings, and recommendations.
• Produced two policy briefs to highlight critical issues and actionable recommendations.
• Produced two infographics
• Developed six storytelling video interviews capturing personal experiences and impacts.

Dissemination:

• Organized stakeholder engagement events and dissemination workshops to present findings and advocate for policy changes.
• Shared findings with local CSOs, NGOs, and government bodies to enhance understanding and promote collaboration.