Hidden Dropout during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study in Tabas, Iran

Background: Hidden dropout is an important global issue which was studied before pandemics. The present study aimed to explore the experience of students’ hidden dropout during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: This is a qualitative study conducted in Tabas, South Khorasan province, Iran in 2021. The participants comprised 37 teachers, parents, and students who were interviewed through semi-structured interview. Data were analyzed via thematic analysis.Results: Our results revealed that the new ways of teaching were greatly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, causing dissatisfaction in the participants. Five main categories emerged, namely unfair educational platform, decreased teacher authority, informalization of education rituals, reduction of the school social dimensions, and the emergence of action norms and preferences.Conclusion: Upgrading the educational platform on a national scale is one of the serious necessities. Additionally, it seems essential to increase the knowledge, skills, and technological literacy of all groups under similar conditions.