PERCEPTION ON DISTANCE EDUCATION AMONG UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST DISTANCE STUDENTS IN ACCRA

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to assess the perception of students of distance education about distance learning in Ghana. Specifically, this study assessed; the opinion of distance students regarding distance education in Ghana, the main factors contributing to the demand for distance education, the level of distance students’ satisfaction of distance education, and the challenges faced by the students offering distance education. A cross-section survey and quantitative method were adopted. A survey questionnaire was used to conveniently gather data from a sample of distance education students of the University of Cape Coast Campuses in Accra. Overall, 280 distance learners took part in the study. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, mean and standard deviation as well as one-sample z-test inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that distance education students of distance education had positive attitude towards the program as they perceived distance program to have similar quality comparable to a traditional classroom setting. Factors such as time flexibility, career development, interest in subject matter/subject offered, cost affordability, reputation of the course, and reputation of the University were the main drivers for students’ preferences distance education. The students were satisfied with the distance education despite the fact that students were faced with some challenges in the form of overloaded curricular, delay in the release of results, long distance to study centre, and inadequate learner support services. The study recommends to management and facilitators of distance education to address the challenges of the students so as to improve students’ satisfaction of the distance learning program.