Stakeholders’ Views and Predictions about the Impact of School Closure due to Covid-19 on Physical and Mental Health of Students With Physical Impairments Studying in Special Education Institution of Lahore

Abstract

Schools being suspended in 189 countries since April 2020, the entire education system had shifted online due to COVID-19. The study aimed to describe impact of school closure on physical and mental health of students with physical impairment during lockdown perceived by the stakeholders. The quantitative research design with survey method was used. The researchers have selected 100 parents, 30 psychologists, 30 physiotherapists, and 30 teachers of students with physical impairment in Lahore randomly. Four close ended self-made questionnaires were used. Study reveals that there are no significance differences in the perceptions of respondents about impact of school closure on mental and physical health of children with physical impairments based on their demographic characteristics. The prediction is supported (df=188and P=.013) that there is an impact of school closure on physical health of children with physical impairments. We recommended that Live tutorial-based exercise and diet and plan should be managed for students.