The impact of Covid-19 restrictions on students’ performance (a case study of Makerere University)

Abstract

COVID-19 is an emerged as highly infectious disease that became a global health affecting all sectors. To prevent COVID-19 transmission, all educations institutions were closed and advised to turn to online learning. The present study sought to find out the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the students’ performance at School of Statistics and Planning Makerere University. The researcher used sample size of 134 respondents where this sample represented second and third year students at school of statistics and planning. Questionnaires were the main instrument in data collection. Multiple regression was used in the analysis of data. The objectives were to find out to examine the relationship between the mode of discussion and the change in CGPA, to examine the relationship cost of internet and the change in CGPA, to find out how the location of the student affected the students CGPA. To find out the effect of assessment mode on students CGPA and to find out the lectures’ attendance relationship with the students’ performance. The findings of the research were as follows. The Mode of discussion affected the student’s performance. Internet cost has a weak and negative relationship with student’s performance. The cost of accessing the internet increases, the students’ academic performance is likely to decline since it becomes very expensive for some students to access online lectures, e-library services. The Students location during Online studies did not affect their evident performance. The student’s location thus those living in rural areas or urban areas succeed regardless of where they stay. The Tests/Exams administered online and the Number of course works submitted offline has a weak but positive relationship with student’s performance. Lectures attendance did not affect the CGPA difference This implies that regardless of whether students’ attend lectures always, sometimes or never does not influence their academic performance. The researcher recommends that cost of internet for students should be lowered to enable all students of different backgrounds to access it cheaply.