Impact Evaluation of E-Learning on Senior Secondary Students during Covid-19 Pandemic in Ogun State

Abstract

No doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic had significant negative influence on educational sector particularly secondary education. Proactive intervention with the use of e-learning technologies was put in place by schools particularly in Ogun State to bridge the learning gap created by the pandemic. However, while there is evidence of e-learning technologies introduction in secondary education in Ogun state, little is known on the impact of these e-learning technologies in bridging the pedagogical gap created by the pandemic in Ogun State secondary schools, thus necessitate the need for this study. This study therefore evaluates the impact of e-learning on senior secondary school students in Ogun State. This study adopts the descriptive survey research design embedded with CIPP evaluation model. Four (4) research questions and two hypotheses were raised. The population for this study comprised of all public and private secondary schools in Ogun State, while 1 Senatorial district, 2 local governments, 5 public and 5 private secondary schools and 150 SS2 students constitute the study sample. E-learning Impact Evaluation Assessment Scale (ELIEAS) (r = 0.77) was the instrument used in data collection. Descriptive statistics was adopted to answer the 4 research questions raised, while t-test was used to test the two stated hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level of significance. Results reveals high students’ proficiency level with e-learning technologies and high level of utilization of e-learning technologies for knowledge-based inquiry by students in Ogun East Senatorial district. Results also affirms that inadequate power supply, internet network problem, financial implications associated with procurement of laptop or smartphones, poor institution provision for e-learning facilities and students’ mishap during e-learning class are challenges experienced by students in the use of e-learning technologies. Results showed high level of student’s perception of e-learning effectiveness in bridging the gap in education created by COVID-19 in Ogun State. Findings of the study however established significant difference in e-learning technological proficiency (t = 3.22; df= 148, p = 0.002 < 0.05) and level of utilization (t = -2.03; df= 148, p = 0.044 < 0.05) i among students based on their school type. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that e-learning technologies had significant positive impact bridging the educational gap created by the COVID-19 pandemic in Ogun State. On the bases of these findings, the study recommends that governments should invest heavily in e-learning technologies in schools particularly public secondary schools so as to prevent future interruption of learning by possible pandemic, while stakeholders, PTA and NGOs are encouraged to complement the efforts of government in equipping schools with e-learning technologies.