Students’ views on Indonesian higher education amid the COVID-19 pandemic

The transition to home-based learning during the COVID-19 pandemic presented a significant shift in the educational landscape, prompting an urgent need to evaluate its effectiveness. This study aimed to investigate how secondary education was implemented during the pandemic and how students responded to online learning. A survey design was employed, targeting senior high school students from various regions, with a total sample of 2156 respondents across 18 provinces. The findings revealed that the majority of students participated in online learning, with the majority accessing lessons via mobile phones. However, only a few students reported a clear understanding of the material presented. Furthermore, the majority of respondents indicated a preference for traditional face-to-face learning over online instruction. These results suggest that while the infrastructure and technological accessibility for online learning were adequate, comprehension and engagement remained limited. The study highlights the need for improving instructional strategies and learner support in virtual environments to enhance educational outcomes during emergency remote learning. Keywords: Distance education; learning preferences; mobile learning; online instruction; pandemic education