The role of social pedagogy in Slovakia during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This article aims to describe the role of social pedagogy in Slovakia, and in particular to answer the following questions: What are the social challenges that children and their families, schools and social pedagogues are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic? How do social pedagogues in Slovakia perceive the present situation and what can they do to help their students face these challenges? The article first describes the unfolding and the current state of the pandemic as well as the role of social pedagogues in Slovakia. It then analyses the reflections of 31 Slovak social pedagogues on current educational problems and the role of social pedagogy during the pandemic. In doing so, the article answers the question: In what sense does social pedagogy bring hope for various needy communities? The analysis presents some of the challenges social pedagogues are facing amid the chaos of social relations due to social distancing and pandemic lockdowns.