PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

 

e-ISSN 2231-8542
ISSN 1511-3701

Home / Regular Issue / JTAS Vol. 29 (4) Dec. 2021 / JSSH-8267-2021

 

COVID-19 Effects on Students’ Teaching and Learning Perspectives in Malaysian Varsities

Zambri Harun, Firdaus Mohamad Hamzah, Shuhaimi Mansor, Abdus Samad Mahmud, Hashimah Hashim, Mohamed Thariq Hameed Sultan, Nik Mohd Zuki Nik Mohamed, Mohd Danial Ibrahim, Hasril Hasini, Mohd Rashdan Saad and Ahmad Rasdan Ismail

Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, Volume 29, Issue 4, December 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.29.4.34

Keywords: COVID-19 Effects on teaching, digital learning divide

Published on: 13 December 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has had dramatic effects on the socio-economic and well beings of Malaysians. The objective of the study is to find the effects of the pandemic on university students both on the technical side, such as the sufficiency of infrastructure and the internet to support online teaching and learning (T&L), as well as on the social side, such as stress level and focus on the study. The nationwide study on the effect of the pandemic on Malaysian varsities students was conducted at the end of 2020. There are many important issues uncovered in this study ranging from the technical side, such as internet-ready programs, socio-economic side, to the psychological perspectives. It shall provide invaluable insights to the related ministries while preparing appropriate reactions during the recovery period. The survey revealed that almost 74% of students highlighted that internet coverage and connectivity was the main issue in online T&L. Although statistics show that 90% of Malaysian households have access to the internet, 49% of students reported that their internet connections were poor. The effects of the pandemic are far-reaching, students belonging to the most vulnerable category find themselves in the most non-conducive place to learn, and they are disturbed by siblings. The socio-economics impacts brought about by the pandemic cause ripple effects onto their families. The government distribution of relief aids has lessened the burden of many people, including students; nevertheless, much improvement could be made, especially in the internet facility and coverage.

  • Abd Aziz, M. I., & Doria, A. (2014). Finding the next ‘wave’ in internationalisation of higher education: Focus on Malaysia. Asia Pacific Education Review, 15(3), 493-502. https: //doi.org/10.1007/s12564-014-9336-7

  • BBC Monitoring. (2020, Jun 18). Malaysian student sits exams in a tree to ensure good wifi. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-53079907

  • Covid-19: Movement Control Order imposed with only essential sectors operating. (2020, March 16). New Straits Times. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/575177/covid-19-movement-control-order-imposed-only-essential-sectors-operating

  • Department of Statistic Malaysia. (2019). Education Malaysia 2019. https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/cthree&menu_id=Z1hCMUVLQWVOL2tScVlhSmo5eEd3QT09

  • Department of Statistic Malaysia. (2020a). Demographic Statistics Fourth Quarter 2020, Malaysia. https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/cthemeByCat&cat=430&bul_id=Szk0WjBlWHVTV2V1cGxqQ1hyVlppZz09&menu_id=L0pheU43NWJwRWVSZklWdzQ4TlhUUT09

  • Department of Statistic Malaysia. (2020b). ICT use and access by individuals and households survey report, Malaysia, 2019. https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/cthemeByCat&cat=395&bul_id=SFRacTRUMEVRUFo1Ulc4Y1JlLzBqUT09&menu_id=amVoWU54UTl0a21NWmdhMjFMMWcyZz09

  • Dhawan, S. (2020). Online learning: A Panacea in the time of COVID-19 crisis. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 49(1), 5-22. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047239520934018

  • Engineering Accreditation Council/ Engineering Technology Accreditation Council. (2020). EAC / ETAC Guiding principles on teaching-learning and assessment implementation during Covid-19 pandemic (Guidelines No. 005). https://www.eac.org.my/web/document/EAC-ETAC%20CovidGuidelines.pdf

  • Essence of conditional Movement Control Order. (2020, May 2). Bernama. https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=1837487

  • Gonzales, A. L., McCrory, C. J., & Lynch, T. (2018). Technology problems and student achievement gaps: A validation and extension of the technology maintenance construct. Communication Research, 47(5), 750-770. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650218796366

  • Harun, Z., Arshad, I., Yaakob, Z., Nordin, R., & Hashim, H. (2016). The effectiveness of health and safety topics in an engineering course syllabus. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 24(S), 155-166.

  • Harun, Z., Saibani, N., Rasani. M. R., & Sajuri, Z. (2017). How realistic are the EAC measurements? Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, (12), 58-66.

  • Ibn-Mohammed, T., Mustapha, K. B., Godsell, J., Adamu, Z., Babatunde, K. A., Akintade, D. D., Acquaye, A., Fujii, H., Ndiaye, M. M., Yamoah, F. A., & Koh, S. (2021). A critical analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and ecosystems and opportunities for circular economy strategies. Resources, Conservation, and Recycling, 164, 105-169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105169

  • Joni, F. (2020, May 3). Ini tujuh negeri yang tidak laksana, atau tangguh PKPB [These are seven states that do not implement, or delay CMCO]. Astro Awani. https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/ini-tujuh-negeri-yang-tidak-laksana-atau-tangguh-pkpb-241303

  • Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30, 607-610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308

  • Landau, E. (2020, May 27). University lectures to go online until Dec 31, except for 5 groups. New Straits Times. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/05/595758/university-lectures-go-online-until-dec-31-except-5-groups

  • Lim, L. L. (2020). The socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 in Malaysia: Policy review and guidance for protecting the most vulnerable and supporting enterprises. ILO Report. https://www.ilo.org/asia/publications/WCMS_751600/lang--en/index.htm

  • Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. (2021, April 7). JENDELA: 2nd Quarterly Report. https://myjendela.my/Sitejendela/media/Doc/2nd_Quarterly_Report_of_JENDELA.pdf

  • Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370-396. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054346

  • Md Shah, A. U., Nur Azrie Safri, S., Thevadas, R., Noordin, N. K., Abd Rahman, A., Sekawi, Z., Ideris, A., & Hameed Sultan, M. T. (2020). COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia: Actions taken by the Malaysian government. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 97, 108-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.093

  • Milheim, K. L. (2012). Toward a better experience: Examining student needs in the online classroom through Maslow’s hierarchy of needs model. MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 8(2), 159-171.

  • Miller, A., Topper, A. M., & Richardson, S. (2016). Suggestions for improving IPEDS distance education data collection. (NPEC 2017). National Postsecondary Education Cooperative. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/pdf/NPEC/data/NPEC_Paper_IPEDS_Distance_Education_2017.pdf

  • Rohan-pal. (2020, March 23). Data consumed for 1-hour of video conferencing on Skype, Microsoft team, Google Hangout, Slack? The Mobile Indian. https://www. themobileindian.com/news/how-much-data-is-consumed-for-1-hour-of-video-conferencing-on-skype-microsoft-team-google-hangout-slack-30319

  • Rothstein, M. A. (2015). From SARS to Ebola: Legal and ethical considerations for modern quarantine. Indiana Health Law Review, 12(1), 227-278. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2499701

  • Selvanathan, M., Mohamed Hussin, N. A., & Nor Azazi, N. A. (2020). Students learning experiences during COVID-19: Work from home period in Malaysian higher learning institutions. Teaching Public Administration. https://doi.org/10.1177/0144739420977900

  • Shankar, A. J. (2020, April 7). YTL Foundation to give away free mobile phones to B40 students under Learn from Home Initiative. The Edge Markets, https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/ytl-foundation-give-away-free-mobile-phones-b40-students-under-learn-home-initiative

  • Sharma, A., & Borah, S. B. (2020). Covid-19 and domestic violence: An indirect path to social and economic crisis. Journal of Family Violence. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-020-00188-8

  • Sharma, Y. (2020, December 2). Private universities at risk as foreign students stay away. University World News. https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story= 2020120216283461

  • Singh, V., & Thurman, A. (2019). How many ways can we define online learning? A systematic literature review of definitions of online learning (1988-2018). American Journal of Distance Education, 33(4), 289-306. https://doi.org/10.1080/08923647.2019.1663082

  • Son, C., Hegde, S., Smith, A., Wang, X., & Sasangohar, F. (2020). Effects of COVID-19 on college students’ mental health in the United States: Interview survey study. Journal Medical Internet Research, 22(9), Article e21279. https://doi.org/10.2196/21279

  • The Regional Risk Communication and Community Engagement Working Group. (2020). COVID-19: How to include marginalized and vulnerable people in risk communication and community engagement. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/COVID-19_CommunityEngagement_130320.pdf

  • Umair, S., Waqas, U., & Faheem, M. (2021). COVID-19 pandemic: Stringent measures of Malaysia and implications for other countries. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 97, 130-132. http://doi.org/10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-138079

  • UNESCO IESALC. (2020). COVID-19 and higher education: Today and tomorrow; Impact analysis, policy responses and recommendations. http://www.guninetwork.org/publication/report-covid-19-and-higher-education-today-and-tomorrow-impact-analysis-policy-responses

  • W Zamri, W. F. H., Abidin, Z. Z., & Harun, Z. (2021). Cabaran pembelajaran ketika pandemik: Simptom stres di kalangan pelajar Program Kejuruteraan Mekanikal UKM [Learning challenges during a pandemic: Symptoms of stress among students of the UKM Mechanical Engineering Program]. Prosiding K-Novasi 2021, 159-162. https://www.aktivukm.my/copy-of-pembentangan-makalah

ISSN 1511-3701

e-ISSN 2231-8542

Article ID

JSSH-8267-2021

Download Full Article PDF

Share this article

Recent Articles