No abstract

Quality and sustainability have been unresolved issues since the repercussion of the commercialization of distance education. Personal guidance, counseling and study habits, which are critical in maintaining the quality of distance education, have been underrated in most distance education. The study investigated the influence of personal guidance and counseling on study habits of distance learners in Bachelor of Education at the University of Nairobi. 319 respondents participated in the study by filling in questionnaires. The results of the Pearson Correlation Coefficient showed a positive correlation R= 0637 between personal guidance and counseling and study habits. The hypothesis was tested at α=.05 level of significance and the results H01: Personal guidance and counseling do not significantly influence study habits of distance learners was rejected since P=0.000<0.05. Therefore, the study concluded that there is a significant influence of personal guidance and counseling support services on the study habits of distance learners in Bachelor of Education studies of the University of Nairobi. The study recommends a paradigm shift through face to face and digital technology in the provision of personal guidance and counseling for study habits to maintain the quality of distance education.

Distance learners in some studies have reported feelings of isolation and lack of direction in developing effective study habits. The purpose of this study is to establish the extent to which social guidance and counselling influence study habits of learners in Bachelor of Educational programmes by distance learning of the University of Nairobi. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. Simple random and stratified random sampling methods adopted to select the 327 participants from a target population of 2199. Cronbach's alpha of α =0.76 zero was attained as the reliability coefficient of the pre-test instruments. Simple and multiple linear regression and Pearson Correlation Coefficient models determine the predictor variable. Results show that social guidance and counselling mean score of 3.29 and standard deviation of 1.297 were similar to composite mean score of 3.29 and standard deviation of 1.297. Therefore, the results of the study demonstrate that social guidance and counselling is critical in enhancing study habits of distance learners. The study recommends that education policy makers and universities should integrate social guidance and counselling in the curriculum to address myriad challenges facing distance learners in connection to their study habits.