Digital desert: realty of the education in pandemic times

With COVID-19, the way of doing and thinking about education mediated by digital technologies suddenly emerged. The new educational reality is evidenced by the distance between the bodies and the teaching and learning processes, requiring teachers who are prepared and committed to the act of educating. This paper is a theoretical-practical study that explores professional development and teacher education in the context of the current pandemic. Objective: This research sought to understand the perception of basic education teachers in Spain and Brazil about the impact of COVID-19 on education. Method: This is descriptive-exploratory research, in which there were interviews with 12 basic education teachers from both countries. Results: The abrupt incorporation of digital technologies caused great suffering to teachers. The researchers observed the precariousness of work, the emergence of new professional and psychological demands, and the urgent need to adopt training processes for teachers that meet the new realities and challenges presented. Conclusion: Education has become more complex: working conditions have worsened; difficulties in dealing with their fears, emotions and losses; increase in educational inequality and illness. Teachers express feelings of solidarity and are aware of the importance of education.