ABSTRACT
This paper provides an overview and critical review of the question of whether and to what extent has the coronavirus pandemic affected the economic situation of women. The case study in Bosnia and Herzegovina identified the key concepts that will guide our analysis and interpretation. Based on our experiences, we examine and investigate the economic and social status of women in general, and then monitor economic and social parameters during the coronavirus pandemic, to answer the key question-whether the pandemic caused more damage to men or women in economic terms, did it emphasize and deepen the existing gender gap in economic and social terms, or did it improve the position of women, which we consider less likely. This is a predominantly quantitative approach, given that we collected, compared, and analyzed various statistical data from the census, statistics from labor and employment agencies on the labor market, and similar. Using the compilation method we collected all relevant statistical data for research, and then relied on content analysis and comparison to draw key conclusions. Also, using the compilation method we collected various media reports related to the topic. Where there was a need for additional sources we used the interview as a qualitative method, where we relied on the experience of employment agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations dealing with gender equality issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even though numerous studies have shown that the Covid-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on women, our research confirms that official statistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina do not reveal that women are significantly more economically affected than men. The expressiveness of women affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the impact on their economic status was also given through regression analysis and its results. Taking into account only R Square and its indicator of 48%, which is not negligible, it shows the economic position of women before the coronavirus, but certainly during the pandemic. However, given that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic risk improving existing gender inequalities, we also seek to remind the relevant institutions of their commitment to addressing gender inequalities in all aspects of society and achieving these goals more quickly through a gender-sensitive approach. This, therefore, further opens up opportunities for gender equality, the effectiveness of sustainable development goals, and the empowerment of women in all aspects of social, political, cultural, and economic life. © 2022, Institute for Human Rehabilitation. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The focus of this research is education during the coronavirus pandemic in Southeastern European countries (Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia). It encompasses elementary education, high schools and higher education. The aim of the research is multiple. With it, we want to present methods of distance learning during the pandemics in the above mentioned countries, challenges and advantages that have emerged, as well as potential solutions for removing faults. This is primarily qualitative research relying on several methods. We conducted interviews to understand the experiences of different stakeholders participating in the education process. This research also relies on quantitative data, i.e. researches doing by The University of Prishtina, Pedagogical Institute of Kosovo, as well as results of opinion polls and research conducted by Student Parliament and Senate of the University of Sarajevo. Their research was conducted throughout the academic year 2020/2021. Also, we compiled different texts from media, as well as statements from different stakeholders. Our method is primarily inductive – because in some cases general ideas and conclusions about distance learning in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are based on different individual examples. Information in this research in relation to the section on North Macedonia is mainly based on three sources: Data from the website of Ministry for Education and Science of the Republic of North Macedonia;Morphosis Foundation Survey from September 2020 entitled Status and Challenges for Managing Online Teaching in Primary School;and Findings from the research with directors, teachers, and parents: Experience and Attitudes about Distance Learning, a document prepared by Reactor. Our key conclusion is that Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia were not an exception regarding to the problems that arose during the pandemic in terms of education, such as online teaching, adapting students to new learning conditions, training of teachers for teaching in extraordinary and new circumstances, assessment criteria, etc. However, the situation has also brought opportunities to re-think existing education models and to find new solutions at schools and universities. © 2021, Institute for Human Rehabilitation. All rights reserved.