Investigation of the role of vocational high schools in the COVID-19 process from views of school administrators

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of vocational high-schools in the covid-19 process in a multidimensional way considering the viewpoint of school administrators who are responsible for directing the schools. In the current study, case study which is a kind of qualitative research method. Participants of the study consisted of 22 school administrators. The research data have been collected through a semi-structured interview form. The data obtained by the interview have been resolved by the content analysis method. Within the codes obtained through the research data; six themes emerged, which are problems in vocational education, effectiveness of vocational high-schools, production during the pandemic, crisis management approaches, socioeconomic and psychosocial support, and educational policies based on strengthening vocational high-schools. The findings have been interpreted through specified codes, categories, and themes by citing the responses of participants. Findings of the research showed that school administrators behaved devoted in terms of involvement in the production and contribution to precautions in the Covid-19 crisis period. Further, the production activities were mostly visible in the vocational high schools having adequate resources and equipment. These vocational high-schools have produced materials such as masks, overalls, visors, disinfectant, cleaning materials and disinfectant stands which are needed to fight against Covid-19. Thus, it could be concluded that they have converted the pandemic crisis into an opportunity for themselves by providing these materials not only to their own schools but also to other schools, institutions, and organizations as well.