Challenges in applying a student-centred approach to e-learning for Islamic education in primary schools during the pandemic COVID-19: Preliminary data analysis

• Main Authors: Tengku Kasim, Tengku Sarina Aini, Mohd Noor, Nur Eliza, Md Yusoff, Yusmini
• Format: Article
• Published: Department of Aqidah and Islamic Thought, Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya 2022
• Subjects: LB Theory and practice of education
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/43975/; https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85144483035&doi=10.22452%2fafkar.sp2022no1.2&partnerID=40&md5=70a88f3b134f49687caa62167e59cf14
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world significantly in various sectors and industries, including the educational sector. For example, traditional classroom learning, which is more teacher-centred, is being replaced by e-learning, which takes a student-centred approach. However, this approach is considered distinct from the teaching and learning practice of Islamic Education taught in the classroom before the pandemic. This sudden shift presents a significant challenge to Islamic Education teachers to apply more student-centred e-learning. According to the literature review, several issues arose when Islamic Education e-learning was implemented, such as low student engagement, few active students, little student feedback, and high student dropout rates. Thus, this preliminary study examined the challenges of implementing the student-centred approach to e-learning for Islamic Education in primary schools. This study adopted a qualitative design with an in-depth interview involving Islamic Education teachers in primary schools. The study’s findings revealed that the research informants continuously implemented the student-centred approach even when the country was struck by the COVID-19 pandemic, despite facing challenges, especially in student personality development. Moreover, the findings suggest that teachers must better comprehend and implement a more creative student-centred approach in e-learning to align with 21st-century education and fulfil their responsibility for students’ future personality development. © 2022, University of Malaya. All rights reserved.