Secondary school students’ school-related stressors during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

IntroductionDue to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption of education systems worldwide, secondary schools in Malaysia have shifted to online classes to ensure educational continuity. Therefore, it was necessary to investigate the various effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on secondary school students.MethodsA self-reported survey with closed and open-ended questions was used to collect data involving 1,067 secondary school students from eight schools in Sabah, Malaysia. The participants were mostly male (53.4%), with a mean age of 14.8 (SD = 1.64). The study involved students from various levels/grades, including transition class, forms 1–5, lower six, and upper six.ResultsStudents faced a variety of school-related stressors, including academic failure due to a poor online course; general mental health issues; a poor internet connection; a lack of in-person interaction; a SOP restriction; an inability to focus; too many homework assignments; burnout; becoming lazier; home conditions; and financial difficulties.DiscussionThe implications for classroom practice, policy formulation, and future research are examined.

Exploring the influential factors of university students' satisfaction with online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in malaysia: A cross-sectional study

“…Since the emergence of COVID-19, when schools and universities around the world were forced to close in response to the pandemic, the importance of online education has grown (Koksal et al, 2020;Wider, Chua, Mutang, & Pan, 2023). During the pandemic, the goal of online learning is not only to complete online courses but also to maintain communication with students, increase their self-esteem, and boost their confidence in their abilities (Kaur, Dwivedi, Arora, & Gandhi, 2020).…”