identification of challenges and opportunities of virtual education in teachers’ point of view during the covid-19 pandemic

Purpose: present study sought to identify the challenges and opportunities of virtual education in teachers’ point of view during the covid-19 pandemic. methodology: the current study was conducive and qualitative in view of the purpose and approach respectively. the statistical population included high school teachers in dehloran (889 individuals) in the academic year of 2020-2021. the sample size was determined to be 18 individuals based on the theoretical saturation rule in addition they were selected by purposive sampling method. semi-structured interviews were utilized as a tool for research. furthermore, its content validity was defined by the experts’ perspective (including 2 sociology professors, 1 psychology professor and 2 educational planning professors). the reliability was 0.88 with a coding agreement coefficient in addition the data analysis method was based on thematic analysis. findings: 24 open codes and 8 central codes (consist of infrastructure factors, economic challenges, ambiguity in the role, lack of technological skills and indifference of teachers and students, teaching risks, books contents and teacher competencies) were determined to be some challenges of virtual education in covid-19 pandemic. on the other hand, 23 open codes and 7 central codes (approach of the world system, parents’ experiences, psychological and economic efficiency of virtual education, continuity of virtual teaching methods, and adaptability of the pillars of the education system, selective teaching methods and teachers' social status) were identified as virtual education opportunities. conclusion: regarding to the indeterminate time of covid-19 ending, virtual education continuity seems essential and authorities of education system should be aware of its improvement and current challenges (like the ones discussed in present study). in addition, paying more attention to virtual education is more momentous by considering the opportunities which are the result of utilization of this method in covid-19 period.