Initiative to provide real-time data collection on disadvantaged communities affected

Innovative response

"The 'Reaction for Education' Initiative
In terms of ensuring the continuity of the educational process after suspension of face to face classes, one of the main challenges for governments is to identify vulnerable communities, the needs for educational resources, and the provision of necessary means to cover these needs so that school can continue from home.
The 'Reaction for Education' initiative was launched by the Ministry of Education and Research in Romania, in partnership with the non-governmental organisation Narada, and with the support of Cora Romania, as an effort to ensure access to quality education for all, in particular now, when learning takes place mostly online due to the safety measures imposed in the COVID-19 context.
The 'Reaction for Education' initiative aims at bringing digital technology closer to teachers and pupils in disadvantaged communities through an online platform available at https://narada.ro/reactie-pentru-educatie/, which provides teachers with an online form to express the material needs that they and their students experience in the process of pursuing online/distance learning in the context of COVID-19. The objective of this tool is to attract and coagulate the local communities, in order to address as many needs as possible in a shorter time.

Specific issues addressed and anticipated impact

"An innovative example of real-time data collection on the material resources needed for students and teachers to continue online learning is the NARADA Live Aggregator (https://narada.ro/reactie-for-education/results/).
This example of open governance has already succeeded in identifying some of the material resources needed by students and teachers to continue online learning. So far, it has been accessed by nearly 110,000 pupils and over 1,000 teachers who have requested support for online learning and teaching by filling in the online form.
Moreover, the platform offers the opportunity for companies or individuals interested in getting involved and supporting communities in need of support."