The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Students’ Academic Performance of: The Case of Hope Enterprise University College,

Abstract

COVID-19 brought worldwide crises to all levels of education and Ethiopia is not an exception. This research was conducted on the teaching-learning process of HEUC to learn from the experiences of a sudden shutdown of regular classes and a shift into e-learning platforms during the pandemic. The assessment was conducted looking into the perspectives of students involving survey interviews, comparison of grade-based assessments between online and face-to-face classes, observations, and informal interviews with students and instructors. A random sample of 106 students participated in the research in addition to comparing grades of 512 first-year undergraduate students and 181 graduate students in the online and face-to-face classes. Some of the locally validated instruments named “Model for E-Learning Systems Success” was used for the survey adding an open question section to collect the perspectives of students. The results of the study showed that students generally had a negative view of online learning. They reported feeling isolated and disconnected from their teachers and classmates. They also found it difficult to stay motivated and focused on their studies. The findings of this study suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on education in Ethiopia. Students and teachers have struggled to adapt to online learning, and this has led to a decline in academic performance. One way to address these challenges is to provide students with more support and resources. This could include offering tutoring, counseling, and other forms of support. In addition, this could include providing more interactive and engaging content, as well as making sure that the platforms are user-friendly. Finally, it is important to provide teachers with training on how to teach effectively online.