82 percent of teachers who participated in the survey by the SOS Network of Social Organizations for Education believe that homework is necessary. 85 percent claim they have to make decisions about how much and what type of work is assigned. At the same time 57 percent believe that their number should be reduced.
At the end of January, a draft amendment to the Minister of Education’s regulations on assessing, classifying and promoting students and listeners in public schools in the field of homework was submitted for public consultation. According to this law, teachers in groups I to III of primary school will not give written or practical homework assignments. In groups 4 to 8, students can do such work, but it is not mandatory and no grade is given for it. After checking such work, the teacher should provide the student with information about what he or she has done well, what needs improvement, and how to continue learning.
The SOS Network of Social Organizations for Education conducted a survey about homework from February 28 to March 6, 2024. 4,515 people participated: 1,434 teachers (81% from primary schools, 19% from secondary schools), 2,455 parents (83.5% have children in primary schools, 16.5% in secondary schools) and 625 students (42% go to primary school, 58% go to secondary school).
The research shows that this is 25 percent. Teachers assign homework after every lesson, 25 percent once a week, and 14 percent once a month. 12 percent state that they do not assign homework. 25 percent chose the answer ‘other’. Most of them explained in their comments that they assign homework depending on the needs and the topic of the lesson, for example if they believe that a certain topic requires additional repetition or reflection by the students.
The opinion of mathematicians
55% of respondents indicate that they do homework every day. mathematicians. This practice is much more common among them than among teachers of other subjects. Early childhood education teachers come second in this regard (32%), and foreign language teachers come third (28%). Assigning homework once a week is most often indicated by Polish teachers (33%), and again by foreign language teachers (31%). and preschool education – 26 percent. Not doing homework is explained by: Physical education teachers – 47%. of them are IT specialists: 30 percent and teachers of vocational subjects – 32 percent. Only 7 percent No homework is assigned in pre-school education.
68 percent As part of homework, teachers give students short tasks to review material from the lesson. 22 percent give students materials to read or watch before class. 21 percent he only assigns homework to those who want to do it. 10% of students take home assignments that they did not have time for during class, and 5% do this before the test. teachers. 23 percent When teachers were asked what homework they assigned, the answer was “other,” meaning different types of projects and group tasks, readings and lectures, as well as essays and other written work.
According to 57 percent Teachers should reduce the amount of homework, but this cannot be completely given up. 34 percent believe that the current method of assigning homework is appropriate and does not require any changes. 7% support the complete cessation of domestic work. response and an increase in the number of assigned assignments by 1%.
64% support reducing the amount of housework. Polish teachers, 63 percent art teachers, 61 percent IT specialists, 57 percent early childhood education teachers, 57 percent physics teachers, 57 percent foreign language teachers, 56 percent subjects related to history and society and 53 percent mathematicians.
82 percent teachers believe that homework is necessary (54% believe it is definitely necessary, and 29% believe it is somewhat necessary). 12% have a different opinion. teachers (including 8% who think homework is quite unnecessary, and 5% who think it is absolutely unnecessary). 5 percent I have no strong opinion on this issue.
85 percent Teachers believe that they should decide how much and what homework is assigned to students. 6 percent believe that decisions on this matter should be made by the ministry. 5 percent chose the other option, the ‘other’ answers included suggestions such as involving students in the decision-making process. Others talked about teachers making decisions, but in collaboration with parents and/or students. Still others pointed out that the decision should be made at school level, by the board of education or a “team of teachers.”
In the survey, parents were asked how much time their child spends on average on homework. 39 percent responded that it was 2-3 hours, 31%. – an hour. 15 percent parents answered 4-6 hours, 7%. – 6-9 hours, 5 percent – more than 9 hours. 3 percent parents said their children had not done their homework.
Help Wanted
According to 64 percent of parents, their child needs help with housework. 68% of parents of primary school children indicated that they had to help their children, and 42% of secondary school children.
60 percent respondents indicated that they helped the child, and 30 percent mentioned the other parent. Then parents indicated: a tutor – 13%, a brother or sister – 7%. and grandmother and/or grandfather – 7%. If a parent chose more than one answer, it usually involved both parents: 16%. or a parent who completed the survey and a teacher – 4%.
According to 44 percent Parents should reduce the amount of housework, but this cannot be completely given up. 28 percent believe that the current method of assigning homework is appropriate and does not require any changes. 23% are in favor of giving up homework completely. parents, and an increase in the number of assignments by 1%.
64 percent parents believe that housework is necessary (38% – definitely necessary, 26% – somewhat necessary). 30% find them unnecessary. parents (16% – rather unnecessary, 14% – absolutely not necessary), and 6% there is no strong opinion on this issue.
According to 61 percent, parents should decide how much and what homework he gives to his students. 19 percent parents believe that this should be decided by the ministry, and 13 percent have not expressed their opinion directly. 7.3 percent parents chose the answer “other.”
30 percent Students stated that they need an average of 2 to 3 hours per week to do their homework. 21 percent – one hour, 20 percent – 4-6 hours, 11 percent – 6-9 hours, 6 percent – more than 9 hours. 12 percent The students responded that they had not done their homework at all.
53 percent Students responded that they did not need help with their homework. Student statements show that 47% have a need for this.
43 percent students want to eliminate homework, and 41 percent want to reduce it. According to 12 percent of students, the current way of asking questions is appropriate and nothing needs to be changed, and 3 percent think there should be more housework.
According to 50 percent of students, homework is not necessary (24% find it quite unnecessary and 26% absolutely not necessary). 38% think this is necessary. students (16% – definitely needed, 21% rather needed). 12 percent Students have no opinion about this.
30 percent Students believe that the decision about how much and what homework to assign should be made by teachers. The same – 30 percent. – believes that the ministry should decide. 29 percent students chose the answer “hard to say.” 10 percent chose the answer “other,” with many of them indicating that the decision should be up to the students.
Results submitted to the Ministry of National Education
According to SOS dla Education, the results of the survey have been submitted to the Ministry of National Education.
SOS for Education is a network of social organizations involved in the development of the Polish education system. It supports educational initiatives, promotes good practice and introduces pedagogical innovations. The following organizations were involved in the research: Center for Citizen Education, School with Class Foundation, Civis Polonus Foundation, Ruimte voor Onderwijs, Free Schools Campaign.
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Source: wPolityce