The Impacts of Children's Remote Learning on Working Parents During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

The implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) took place starting from 18 March 2020. This preventive measure was taken by the Government of Malaysia due to the rapid increase of COVID-19 virus outbreak. This study aims to investigate the impacts of children's remote learning on working parents during the Covid-19 pandemic, mainly in Petaling Jaya. This study employed a mixed-method research design, which combines both quantitative and qualitative approaches to support the research. The questionnaire survey through Google Forms and group interview via the Zoom application were conducted to collect the data. A total of 59 parents from Petaling Jaya participated in the questionnaire survey. In addition, 10 parents were chosen to take part in a focus group interview. The results show remote learning was not the same for everyone. Some students could keep up, but many struggled. Most parents supported their kids' online learning. The findings also indicate that working parents had impacts on their mental and emotional health due to time management, increased responsibilities, external pressure, and financial constraints to accommodate their children for online learning. The practical implications of this study suggest that teachers and school management can play a crucial role in preparing structured online materials that are easier for students to follow at home and enable parents to guide their children effectively.

remote learning, COVID-19, working parents, student readiness, challenges, teacher's role

1. Abbas Ahsun, & John, A. (2025, June 15). A case study on the effects of online learning on students' mental health during the pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/392714160_A_Case_Study_on_the_Effects_of_Online_Learning_on_Students [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Amirudin, M. R. B., Ahmat Shahrir, A. B. B., Hasan, D. H. B., Abd Rahim, F. A., Ambotud, A. B., Ariff, N. A. N. B., Hashim, N. N. A. B., Mohamad, N. A. B., & Zur Raffar, I. N. A. B. (2021). The role of parents in student education during Covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarped/v10-i3/11154 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Augustine, G., Nazamud-din, A., & Lendik, L. S. (2022). Lessons from Covid-19 pandemic: Students' remote learning preferences in Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH), 7(5), e001521. https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v7i5.1521 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Ayesha Noor, Sana Mumtaz, Fozia Malik, & Sultan Maqsood. (2024, June 22). E-learning challenges faced by university during Covid-19 pandemic. Retrieved from https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6366&context=tqr [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Calear, A. L., McCallum, S., Morse, A. R., Banfield, M., Gulliver, A., Cherbuin, N., Farrer, L. M., Murray, K., Rodney Harris, R. M., & Batterham, P. J. (2022). Psychosocial impacts of home-schooling on parents and caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12532-2 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Cortés-Albornoz, M. C., Ramírez-Guerrero, S., García-Guáqueta, D. P., Vélez-Van-Meerbeke, A., & Talero-Gutiérrez, C. (2023). Effects of remote learning during COVID-19 lockdown on children's learning abilities and school performance: A systematic review. International Journal of Educational Development, 101(102835), 102835. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2023.102835 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Faaizah Shahbodin, Zulisman Maksom, Che Ku Nuraini, Hanif Al-Fatta, & Kasim, H. M. (2024, July 1). Issues and challenges in online learning: A case study in Malaysia. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383300662_ISSUES_AND_CHALLENGES_IN_ONLINE_LEARNING_A_CASE_STUDY_IN_MALAYSIA [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Frank Tian-Fang Ye, Gao, X., Sin, K.-F., & Yang, L. (2023). Remote learning and mental health during the societal lockdown: A study of primary school students and parents in times of COVID-19. BMC Public Health, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16040-9 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Gautam, P. (2025, February 19). Advantages and disadvantages of online learning. eLearning Industry. Retrieved from https://elearningindustry.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-online-learning [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Groff, L., Elgendi, M. M., Stewart, S. H., & Storm Hélène Deacon. (2024). Long-term mandatory homeschooling during COVID-19 had compounding mental health effects on parents and children. Children, 11(9), 1072–1072. https://doi.org/10.3390/children11091072 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Ishak, N. A., Syed, Z., Syed Idrus, Ummi Naiemah Saraih, & Ayasrah, M. (2021, October 1). Exploring digital parenting awareness during Covid-19 pandemic through online teaching and learning from home. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358347141_Exploring_Digital_Parenting_Awareness_During_Covid-19_Pandemic_Through_Online_Teaching_and_Learning_from_Home [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Jalani, H., Kadir, A., Farhana, M., Nasir, M., Nur, I., Raffar, A., Dina, S., Adnan, M., Naemah, N., & Dahalan, N. (2023). Psychological stress of parents during the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the effectiveness of teaching and learning at home (PdPR). International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(1), 2222–6990. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v13-i1/15839 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Munirah Mohd Jidi, & Nur Faithzah Jamian. (n.d.). Challenges of online learning faced by educators during the endemic COVID-19: A review. Retrieved from https://www.unimel.edu.my/journal/index.php/JULWAN/article/viewFile/1137/906 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Muthuprasad, T., Aiswarya, S., Aditya, K., & Jha, G. K. (2021). Students' perception and preference for online education in India during COVID-19 pandemic. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 3(1), 100101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2020.100101 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Naderifar, M., Goli, H., & Ghaljaie, F. (2017). Snowball sampling: A purposeful method of sampling in qualitative research. Strides in Development of Medical Education, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.5812/sdme.67670 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Nair, S. M., Jiaojing, Y., Krishnasamy, H. N., Singh, G. K. S., & Siddique, M. (2024). Using Overture to enhance students' aural musical skills and motivation in learning. Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology, 8(4), 1966–1978. DOI: 10.55214/25768484.v8i4.1571 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Nair, S. M., Wider, W., Ding Bo, Singh, G. K. S., & Siddique, M. (2024). The impact of parental involvement in preschool on children's academic performance. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(7), 3796–3808. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i7.4500 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Osman, A. B., Hassan, E. E. B., Ismail, F. N. B., Mohd Hasri, F. H. B., Samsul Bahari, N. A. S. B., Mohd Rafi, N. A. A., Mohd Norawi, N. A. B. B., Mohamad Huseini, S. B., & Zur Raffar, I. N. A. B. (2023). Medium and the effects of online learning (ODL) during Covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(2). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v13-i2/16380 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Ping, C. Y. (2024). Education gap during emergency remote learning amongst primary school students in Selangor low-cost flats. The Malaysian Journal of Social Administration, 18. https://doi.org/10.22452/18sp/160.182 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Rabin, E., Goldberg, S., & Blau, I. (2024). Mediation of work-and-family conflict in the relationship between social-and-organizational support and teaching self-efficacy: The case of parent-teachers working remotely. Education and Information Technologies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-024-12732-w [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Rashed, Z. N., Mohd Hanipah, R., & Mohd Zain, N. (2021). Online learning challenges during pandemic Covid-19: Teachers' perspectives. Journal of Islamic Education, 7(sp2021), 66–76. https://doi.org/10.22452/jier.vol7sp2021.6 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Razak, M. H. A., Abdullah, A. H., & Hamid, N. H. A. (2023). Online learning supports in times of pandemic: From parents' perspective. Journal of Communication, Language and Culture, 3(1), 39–46. https://doi.org/10.33093/jclc.2023.3.1.3 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Richardson, M. K., Fedewa, A., & Tischner, C. (2023). The impacts of remote learning and in-person instruction transitions on the mental health of children and their caregivers. Physical Activity and Health, 7(1), 178–190. https://doi.org/10.5334/paah.249 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Wong, S. S., Wong, C. C., Ng, K. W., Bostanudin, M. F., & Tan, S. F. (2023). Depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in Selangor, Malaysia during COVID-19 pandemics and their associated factors. PLoS One, 18(1), e0280680. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280680 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Zain, N., Anis, N., Mut, I., Norhan, S., Rifqi, W., & Rahim, W. (2022). Impact of the home learning during COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: A qualitative review from parents' perspective. International Journal of Education and Research, 10(5). https://www.ijern.com/journal/2022/May-2022/04.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study