Readiness and Challenges of E-Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Space Analysis in Peninsular Malaysia

• Main Authors: Adi Jafar, Ramli Dollah, Prabhat Mittal, Asmady Idris, Jong, Eop Kim, Mohd Syariefudin Abdullah, Eko Prayitno Joko, Dayangku Norasyikin Awang Tejuddin, Nordin Sakke, Noor Syakirah Zakaria, Mohammad Tahir Mapa, Chong Vun Hung
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: MDPI 2023
• Subjects: LB2300-2430 Higher education; RA643-645 Disease (Communicable and noninfectious) and public health
• Online Access: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/37455/1/ABSTRACT.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/37455/2/FULL%20TEXT.pdf; https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/37455/; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20020905
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sabah

During the COVID-19 era, most countries, including Malaysia, have shifted from face-to-face teaching systems to online teaching programs. The aim of this study is to identify the main challenges that higher education students face during e-learning based on their residential location throughout Peninsular Malaysia. This study further examines the readiness of higher education students to apply e-learning. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey approach is used to fulfil the outlined objectives. Accordingly, 761 public (95.3%) and private (4.7%) higher education students residing in Peninsular Malaysia are sampled in this study. The survey was administered online for 37 days, from 21 October 21 to 6 December 2021, using either WhatsApp or Facebook. The raw data is inferentially (Principal Component Analysis, K-Means Clustering, Kruskal Wallis, and spatial analysis) and descriptively (mean, standard deviation & percentage) analyzed. It has been revealed that six clusters of students in Peninsular Malaysia face various challenges while following the e-learning program. Most states in Peninsular Malaysia are dominated by students in Cluster D (Terengganu, Perlis, Penang, Selangor, WP Kuala Lumpur, and WP Putrajaya) and Cluster B categories (Melaka, Johor, Kelantan, and Kedah). Students in the Cluster D category tend to suffer from physical health disorders and social isolation, while students in the Cluster B category face problems with decreased focus in learning, mental health disorders, and social isolation. The outcomes further indicate that the more challenges students face during e-learning programs, the lower their willingness to continue with the program. The results of this study are significant in addressing the challenges of e-learning, which will help stakeholders address and strengthen student abilities.