This study examined perspectives of distance education students on online learning based on their access gadgets (availability and functionality), online presentation or teaching methods, actual use of online learning coupled with its challenges. A quantitative approach and descriptive survey design were adopted for the study. A sample of 1061 was drawn from a study population of 44,134 distance learners across sixteen administrative regions and data collected using a questionnaire. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse the hypotheses of the study, and descriptive statistics were deployed to analyse students perceived challenges. The study found a statistically significant relationship between the availability and functionality of online gadgets, availability of online gadgets and online presentation methods, functionality and online presentation methods and functionality and online learning usage. Thus, these factors are necessary for successful online learning. Four main perceived challenges identified were unreliable power/electricity and internet connectivity, lack of collaboration and motivation during online learning. Therefore, it was recommended that steps are taken to resolve the perceived challenges while adopting the blended approach comprising face-to-face and online learning. The blended learning approach would enable students to adjust better and appreciate its usefulness in distance education.

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We investigated into combining motherhood with academic life concentrating on the struggles of student-mothers. The study adopted the mixed method design affirming the qualitative data with quantitative data. The purposive and convenient sampling procedures were used to select the sample from the University of Cape Coast Distance Education, Oyoko Study Center. The study found that majority of respondents go through academic struggles such as inability to attend face-to-face lectures regularly because of tiredness, sickness of child, taking baby to child welfare clinic and lack of lactating rooms for breastfeeding of babies. To cope with the struggles respondents relied on paid house helps, keeping children at day care centers, raising loans and relying on husbands and friends for support. The study recommended for the provision of lactating rooms, day care centers and counselling services for student-mothers on all centers of the College of Distance Education.

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The aim of this study was to assess how basic school teachers’ job satisfaction relates to their productivity in the Asante Akim South District of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The descriptive design was employed in conducting the study. The population covered all the Basic School teachers in the Asante Akim South District. The sample size was 217, made up of 179 males and 38 females. A questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents. Data analysis was done, using frequency and percentage counts as well as the Pearson Product Moment correlation. Key findings of the study indicated that majority (71.9%) of the respondents perceived that the government’s District Best Teacher award scheme only motivates a few teachers at the expense of the majority of teachers. Teachers’ level of job satisfaction shows a strong positive correlation with teacher productivity (r = 0.870, p = 0.020). In order to enhance teacher job satisfaction and productivity, it was recommended that the District Best Teacher award scheme should be made to cover at least 20% of teachers in the district instead of an individual so that majority of them would not feel unmotivated, neglected and unrecognized. Government should make teacher promotions and salaries relatively equitable and competitive with that of workers in other analogous institutions in the country in order to enhance their job satisfaction and productivity.