The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Tertiary Education in Bangladesh: Students’ Perspectives

Abstract

The present study sought to explore the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on tertiary education in Bangladesh through the students’ perspectives by using a qualitative research design. The participants were fifty university students who took part in semi-structured interviews. The thematic analysis method was used for data analysis. Numerous unprecedented disruptions in students’ learning, decrease in motivation and study hours, and various physical, mental, and economic problems regarding academic studies were prominently found in this study. The study findings concerning online education such as unavailability of electronic devices, limited access to the internet, high cost of internet, low speed of internet, and difficulties in using online platforms were also provided valuable insights into the present scenario of online tertiary education in Bangladesh as COVID-19 is continuing. It is recommended that necessary steps should be taken to improve internet speed and provide free or cheaper internet packages and technical training on online education to tertiary-level students in Bangladesh in this COVID-19 period.