A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF DISTANCE AND ON-CAMPUS LEARNERS

This paper presents findings of a study that compared and analyzed the differences between the academic performances of B.Ed (Science) students enrolled in distance learning relative to those enrolled on-campus at the University of Nairobi. Academic performance was measured by the students’ final course unit score within the 2008/2009 academic year to 2010/2011 academic year. Document analysis guide was used to collect data from a sample of 131 on-campus students and 50 distance learning students. Results indicated that the on-campus students performed significantly higher than the distance learning students in Chemistry and Biology while there was no significant difference in Physics. Though students taking courses by on-campus mode outperformed their counterparts in the distance mode of learning, this paper concludes that with the inclusion of e-learning component and adequate student support system, distance learning should be treated as the emerging standard of quality in higher education which can effectively perform a complementary function, that could satisfy the swelling number of Kenyans seeking higher education.