Comparative relationship between Course content suitability and learners' satisfaction with open and distance learning programmes in Dual-Mode Universities in North-Central, Nigeria

This study compared the relationship between course contents suitability and learners' satisfaction in open and distance learning programmes in Dual-Mode Universities in North-Central, Nigeria. The population of the study was 193 undergraduate distance learners drawn from dual-mode universities in North-Central Nigeria during the 2023/2024 academic session. The sample of the study comprised 59 undergraduate distance learners selected from the University of Ilorin and the Federal University of Technology, Minna using multi-stage sampling technique. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design in which three research questions guided the study with one null hypothesis. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire on suitability of course contents and questionnaire on learner’s satisfaction which was validated by experts in open and distance learning and educational technology experts, the reliability indices of the construct suitability of course contents was 0.84 while that of the construct learner satisfaction was 0.89. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation was used to answer research question and Pearson product moment correlation coefficient to test hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The finding revealed that there is a high, positive association with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.838 between variables suitability of the course contents and satisfaction of distance education learners with the course contents in dual-mode universities in North-Central, Nigeria. It was concluded that the course contents being used for distance learning programmes are suitable for the learners and the learners undergoing distance learning programmes are satisfied with the programme. The study recommended that universities should implement a regular review process for ODL course content to maintain its relevance and effectiveness. Keyword: Assessment, course content, distance learning, education, satisfaction, suitability.