Undergraduate Student’s Perspectives on E-learning during COVID-19 Outbreak in Sri Lankan Universities

Abstract

As education moves e-learning all over the world due to COIVD-19 pandemic, students spend more time on e-learning than ever before. This is also equally applied to the Sri Lankan education system. Thus this study examines the undergraduate students’ perspectives on e-learning during the COVID-19 outbreak in universities in Sri Lanka. Primary data was obtained from undergraduate students in Sri Lankan university using a structured questionnaire via Google form. The perspectives on e-learning education during the COVID-19 pandemic was investigated using descriptive statistics and frequency analysis. The majority of the undergraduate students felt that the e-learning version of education saved travel time and cost of accommodation. Furthermore, the study revealed that the majority of students were happy with the e-learning form of education during the pandemic since it allowed them to finish their degrees faster and access the labor market without a delay. The biggest challenges with e-learning, according to the student responses, were internet access, device availability, visionary issues, technical issues, and stress. As a result of this COVID -19 pandemic, if higher education officials in Sri Lankan universities want to keep e-learning education on going, they must focus on offering cost-effective, high-speed data connections while minimizing technological hurdles. At the same time, it is important to update and revise the curriculum content according to this new mode of education since this is a completely new situation for all. There is relatively little research on students’ perspectives on e-learning education during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Sri Lankan context and it will provide some important highlights to the researchers, parent and academics as well.