Assessing the challenges faced by educational institutions during covid-19 pandemic in Sierra Leone. Case study: Institute of Public Administration and Management

Abstract Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many universities and medical centers have faced many challenges. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of distance education and the development of online teaching and training has become one of the most urgent research topics in the world. The main objective of this study is to assess the challenges faced by educational institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra Leone. This study used a mixed methods approach to determine the impact of COVID-19 on educational institutions in Sierra Leone. A mixed methods approach was chosen to complement the methods of data collection, analysis, and discussion of findings and recommendations. The study was conducted at the Institute of Public Administration, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown. The site was chosen because the university is facing many challenges due to the COVID-19 outbreak that has affected its operations as an educational institution. The target population for this study included staff and students of the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) and selected citizens (the general public). Three categories of respondents were purposively selected from two institutions and a sample of 40 students, 25 faculty members, and 10 staff members from the general public (randomly selected) were conveniently selected to volunteer for the study. Three methods of data collection were used in this study: questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and document review. According to the findings, respondents were asked if their educational institution faced educational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. IPAM was considered an institution that faced challenges, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19, pandemic, educational institution, challenges, university, education officials