Strategic planning in distance education and its influence on learning outcomes of students of some secondary schools in Mfoundi Division Yaounde

Abstract

The present study seeks to examine the impact of strategic planning in Distance Education on the Learning outcomes of students in some secondary schools in the Mfoundi division. In order to achieve this objective, a quantitative research approach was adopted based on deductive research design. The population of study comprises teachers and students in secondary schools of Mfoundi division. Through the use of simple random and stratified sampling, a sample size of 247 participants were selected for the study. To collect data, a close ended questionnaire was administered to the participants selected in the study. The data obtained was analysed using the statistical data analysis technique, precisely the Pearson correlation. Three major theories were convoked to facilitate the discussion of the findings. The data collected and analysed resulted to the following results: Hypothesis one was to measure the relationship between needs assessment and learning outcomes of students in some secondary schools in Mfoudi division, it proved that need assessment significantly influences learning outcomes of students. The second hypothesis aims to examine the impact of provision of digital resources on learning outcome of students, this was positive, this implies that there is a strong and positive relationship between the provision of digital resources and learning outcomes of secondary school students. The third hypothesis was to measure the relationship between technology integration and learning outcomes of students of secondary school, the results proved that technology integration strongly influences the learning outcomes of secondary school students of the Mfoundi division. Finally, the forth hypothesis aim to measure the relationship between monitoring and evaluation and the learning outcomes of the secondary school students, it proved that monitoring and evaluation significantly influences learning outcomes of secondary school students. Basing on this results a number of suggestions were proposed amongst which we have: Educational planners should develop a detail plan, which includes needs assessment, provision of digital resources, technology integration and monitoring and evaluation in their vision for distance education at the strategic level of planning. Identify current gaps and challenges in the government’s digital infrastructure and understand requirements of different structures, while planning for flexible solutions.