Abstract:
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and sudden closure of schools and subsequent
adoption of online education caused challenges for students' learning. The objective of
this study was to determine the impact of online studies and its associated factors on
academic performance among ordinary level (O/L) school students (Academic year
2020/21) in Jaffna MOH.
Methods: This school-based analytical cross-sectional study was carried out among 384
O/L students from 17 secondary schools in the Jaffna MOH area who were in Grade 11
in the academic year 2020/21. Stratified sampling was used. Data were collected by self-
administered questionnaire. Academic performance was assessed by the marks obtained
in six subjects that are common to all. Descriptive statistics and bivariant analysis were
performed using SPSS software.
Results: The response rate was 84.5%. More than half of the respondents were females
(55.3%). The majority of students (97.8%) had engaged in online studies; 88.6% students
were from urban areas and most attended online sessions at home (98.3%). Among those
who did not engage in online learning (2.2%), half lacked an appropriate learning
environment. Over 65% of the students who engaged in online studies had satisfactory
academic performance in the second and third terms. All online learners used video
(100%) but power point was perceived as most effective; 86.4% used smartphones and
51.1% used a data package and experienced average network quality; 92.3% used Zoom,
the most popular app; 91.8% of students had interactive sessions with the teacher while
61.9% of them used audio-based communication. Statistically significant associations
were found between academic performance and sex, comfort with delivery method,
device, app used for online learning, student-teacher interaction, conducting
assignments, category of hometown (urban/rural), leisure time apps in certain subjects
and terms (p≤0.05).
Conclusion : The study found that the majority of students engaged in online studies and
among them 65% had satisfactory academic performance. Based our results, schools that
are conducting or planning to conduct online learning session should focus on regular
and meaningful student-teacher interaction, attractive power point presentations and
Zoom lecture sessions.
