Continuing Education during COVID-19: Difficulties Faced By the Underprivileged University Students

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pushed conventional and blended modes of education online across the globe. This was challenging for Pakistani students to adapt to this unexpected and massive transformation. To analyze how underprivileged university students coped with online classes during the pandemic, phenomenological research was conducted. The participants for this study were approached by using purposive and snowball sampling, and online phenomenological interviews were organized with participants. The data collected from the sample was processed through the thematic analysis method. The findings of the study represented, underprivileged university students had a negative attitude towards online classes. The study further highlighted that learners did not have the mandatory technological resources and capabilities to take online classes. Besides, access to the internet and power cut was also problematic for students. To improve the online mode of education in the remote villages of the country, the government and universities should provide students with mandatory digital resources and competencies to take advantage of e-education.
 Keywords: underprivileged, COVID-19, technological resources, online education