Parental attitudes toward learning from home and conspiracy beliefs in the transition out of the COVID-19 pandemic

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools in Indonesia adopted the learning from home [LFH] method as early as March 2020. By June 2021, at the height of the pandemic, we surveyed 254 parents from 24 provinces in Indonesia whose children had been engaged in LFH for over a year and compared the results with a similar survey conducted among parents in 2020 during the onset of the pandemic. Using latent class analysis, we identified a new majority of pragmatic parents who viewed LFH as useful yet demanding. In contrast, the number of parents with positive attitudes, who considered LFH both useful and not demanding, declined significantly, while the proportion of parents with negative attitudes remained consistent. Hierarchical logistic regression revealed that beliefs in COVID-19 conspiracy theories were strong predictors of negative attitudes toward LFH, with interactions based on the sex and age of the parents. We discuss how the decline in positive attitudes may have stemmed from challenges associated with increased reliance on advanced technology and explore the potential effects of conspiracy beliefs on children’s compliance with COVID-19 safety measures and overall trust in educational institutions. As schools transitioned back to in-person learning, with LFH being phased out by mid-2022, this study provides valuable insights into the shifts in parental attitudes during a critical phase of the pandemic. Understanding these attitudes remains crucial as educational systems continue to adapt to post-pandemic realities and prepare for potential future disruptions in a rapidly evolving global environment.