The unexpected transition to a distance learning format -the forced and immediate action and not all institutions were prepared for the fundamental readjustment. Attitudes towards distance learning technologies are under "pressure", however, the term "online learning" is used whenever there is a lack of personal contact, which leads to the inaccurate deductions. In the present situation, it would be unreasonable to use the term online learning even concerning the use of massive open online courses, since the rapid students' transfer in the mid-term without prior arrangements and proper follow-up prevent students to realize the benefits of this technology. The emergency distance learning approach in a pandemic environment differs significantly from well-planned online learning through massive open online courses. Unfortunately, scientific discussions are often closed and research results do not go beyond the scientific community. However, it is benign to say that experimental studies conducted have verified that the efficiency of online learning is no less than, and in some cases even surpasses, conventional face-to-face learning by educational results. Therefore, what is this educational technology? What determines the effectiveness of distance learning? And why should this technology be distinguished from distance learning under extreme conditions?

Female circumcision affects the lives of millions of girls and women worldwide. This study assessed the demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with the occurrence of female circumcision among women age 15–49 in Maldives. Based on data from the 2016-17 Maldives Demographic and Health Survey, this study used bivariate and logistic regression analyses to examine the characteristics associated with the occurrence of female circumcision. Among all respondents, 17% of the 5943 women who have heard of female circumcision reported having undergone the procedure. The findings revealed that there is a significant difference in female circumcision by age, education, occupation, and attitudes towards female circumcision. Furthermore, most circumcisions occurred before age 5, and was highest in Malé, and the South and North regions. The variables related to opinions were most strongly associated with female circumcision. Compared to women who did not hold these opinions, women who believed that female circumcision is required by their religion or that the practice of female circumcision should continue had more than twice the odds of being circumcised. In addition, crosstabulations of the opinion variables with age and region have found that the highest proportion of women who held these beliefs were age 25–39 and lived in Malé. Therefore, we recommend further research and encouragement to enact policies and legislation that would eliminate the practice of female circumcision in Maldives.

Interaction in online learning is becoming quite common in higher education. Online communication tools are thought to promote student-centred learning and encourage wider student participation as well as provide an important learning opportunity for students. This paper presents a study based on a survey of seventeen students regarding perceptions on the usefulness of online communication, analysed through an interactive discussion structure with selected synchronous and asynchronous communication tools. The article considers student feedback on the new interactive discussion structure provided to them and compares the level of participation between the old structure and the new structure. The results show that there was a significant increase in the level of participation in the new structure. However, it also indicates that simply providing an interactive discussion structure does not mean that it will be used effectively. Several other factors were related to actual participation and perceived usefulness of the structure.