Writer(s)
- Shopna Akter
- Md. Omar Faruk Bhuiyan
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of private universities, along with some public universities in Bangladesh, implemented online education to facilitate the continuation of higher education during the lockdown time. Students are seen as a crucial stakeholder in online education. However, the question pertains to whether students are actively engaged in online education and whether they derive incentive from it or not. The aim of this study is to find out the current status of dropout rate in online education and investigate the reason why dropout rates vary in online education compared to face-to-face class in Bangladesh’s universities. To ascertain the present situation of the dropout rate among students in online education during COVID-19, responses have been gathered from the students. The study employed a mixed method approach comprising a survey questionnaire and focus group discussion to obtain quantitative and qualitative data respectively. In the survey questionnaire, 104 students participated, and in the focus group discussion, 8 learners were involved. Utilising Bean’s model (1980) to analyse online education dropout rates in Bangladesh, this study employed ordinal regression analysis where dropout rate was the dependent variable, whereas background, organisational, personal, environmental, and attitudinal variables served as independent variables. The findings indicate that personal, environmental and attitudinal variables exhibit significant contribution in increased probability of dropout in online education. Initially, a majority of students participated in online classes with reasonable engagement; nevertheless, the dropout rate subsequently escalated due to inadequate online learning environments, insufficient equipment, and unfavourable mental conditions among many students. Although online education has several advantages, implementing online education is challenging for learners and faculty members because it requires uninterrupted electricity, internet connection, students counselling, surveillance, prompt feedback, and regular updates.
