The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic Lockdown on International Students
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
COVID-19 was first discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and quickly spread over the globe, wreaking havoc on all nations and territories. Over 6 million COVID-19 cases had been documented globally at the time of this research, with over 1,000000 fatalities (Johns Hopkins University, 2020; WHO) (2020). These figures were mind-boggling, and the epidemic became a defining global health disaster in recent memory. According to health professionals, the illness does not discriminate against individuals based on their age, sex, gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other social characteristics (WHO, 2020). Older individuals, low-income families, indigenous peoples, and people with underlying chronic or immunological disorders, on the other hand, are thought to be more susceptible to the pandemic (WHO, 2020). International students, who were also severely damaged by the illness socially and economically as a result of their immigration status, are one group that is absent from the vulnerable groups list. To stop the virus from spreading further, public policy has correctly concentrated on medical intervention, vaccine development (WHO, 2020), and emergency laws (‘social distance, lockdown, and border restrictions). Universities have likewise shut down their campuses in response to government demands in order to address the present health problem.
Many governments demonstrated compassion by offering immediate social and financial support to the most disadvantaged persons in order to reduce the social and economic consequences of the epidemic. Several studies have shown that foreign students, particularly those from underdeveloped countries, face difficult living situations in their study locations, including financial problems ( Choudaha, 2017; McGill, 2013; Varghese, 2008).
The corona virus pandemic also impacted overseas students on scholarship, in the sense that the scholarship sponsors are aware of when the program should conclude and are not accountable for any delays in the program’s course, particularly in terms of finances. Even those who had the wherewithal to return home were unable to do so due to flight restrictions in virus-affected nations. As a result, measures such as lockdown and campus closures were more unfair to international students, who were in a high state of anxiety, with many of them experiencing social and psychological distress, including (1) emotional distress, (2) a diminished sense of personal worth, (3) a loss of interpersonal contacts, and (4) poor task (academic) performance (Miller, 2011; Regehr, 2011). As a result, the emphasis of this research is on how the Covid-19 lockout affected overseas students.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the significant steps taken by governments to limit the virus’s spread, such as the Covid-19 lockdown, are having both direct and indirect effects on foreign students. The sudden drop in economic activity has had a substantial effect across many industries, with overseas students suffering the loss of part-time work or lower salaries, which may affect their capacity to continue their studies. Miller and Regehr (2020) believe that the Covid-19 Lockdown and campus closures were especially harsh to international students, who were already suffering from social and psychological stress. As a result, it’s important to investigate the effect of the covid 19 pandemic lockdown on overseas students.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main aim of this study is to examine the impact of Covid-19 pandemic lockdown on international students. Therefore, other relevant objectives include;
1.        To examine the factors responsible for the Covid-19 lockdown.
2.        To investigate the impact Covid-19 lockdown on the educational attainment of international students.
3.        To investigate if international students suffered job loss and psychological trauma as a result of Covid-19 lockdown.
1.4 RESEARCHER QUESTIONS
1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What are the factors responsible for the Covid-19 lockdown ?
2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â What is impact Covid-19 lockdown on the educational attainment of international students?
3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Did international students suffer job loss and psychological trauma as a result of Covid-19 lockdown?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will enlighten the Government, lecturers, students and the general public on the subject under study as the study will reveals the harm done to international students by the drastic decision and implementation of lockdown as a tool for containing the spread of Covid-19. and many more. Researchers will also find this study useful based on their area or focus of interest.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study  will examine the factors responsible for the Covid-19 lockdown. The study will also investigate the impact Covid-19 lockdown on the educational attainment of international students. Lastly,the study investigate if international students suffered job loss and psychological trauma as a result of Covid-19 lockdown. Hence the study will be delimited to international students of Covenant university Ogun State, Nigeria.
1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
It will be a non-challenge to state here clearly that the major constraints to this research study are the financial constraints, limited time due to academic calendar. It is with notice that due to the above constraints the research could not cover the area of interest and call for optimum support in the future research.
1.8. DEFINITION OF TERMS
Covid-19: This is a disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus. ‘CO’ stands for corona, ‘VI’ for virus, and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as ‘2019 novel coronavirus’ or ‘2019-nCoV.
Pandemic:Â This is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents or worldwide, affecting a substantial number of people.
Lockdown: A lockdown can be defined as an emergency protocol implemented by the authorities that prevents people from leaving a given area. A full lockdown will mean that the people in the given area must stay where they are and must not exit or enter a building or given area.
International Student: According to the OECD are “those who received their prior education in another country and are not residents of their current country of study.
