E-learning in Sabah, Malaysia: exploring K12 students’ participation, perceptions, and coping strategies during home-based learning

Past health crises highlight e-learning’s vital role in sustaining education during disruptions. Effective student engagement in online platforms supports continuity amid school closures, yet its efficacy, particularly for primary and secondary students in Sabah, Malaysia remains persistent understudied. Very little research has employed the participation engagement dimension of Handelsman et al.'s student engagement framework to e-learning during crisis-induced school closures. Therefore, this study explored the factors influencing e-learning participation (ELP) among school students (K-12) in Kota Kinabalu during the home-based learning period. A Google Form survey was distributed to 247 students from various schools in Kota Kinabalu, selected through simple random sampling, to examine the relationship between students' perceptions towards e-learning (PTEL), coping strategies (CS), and ELP. The study identified the relationships and strength of prediction made by PTEL and CS on ELP and investigated the impact of demographic variables (gender and educational level) on ELP. Data analysis using SPSS 29 revealed a positive relationship between PTEL, CS, and ELP. The findings from the SmartPLS4 analysis revealed that PTEL served as a stronger predictor of ELP compared to CS. Importantly, the study found no significant differences in e-learning participation between primary and secondary students or between male and female students, suggesting that students adapted equally to e-learning during the home-based learning period. Future research should expand predictors and diversify samples to address gaps in e-learning efficacy.