E-Learning During the Civil War in Sudan: Perceptions, Barriers, and Acceptance

Abstract

 On 15 April 2023, the civil war in Sudan began, pitting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamedan Dagalo. The conflict has had significant humanitarian, economic, and political consequences for the population, prompting universities to transition to e-learning. This study explores students’ perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning, as well as the challenges they faced during this Civil War-era e-learning experience. It also investigates learners’ acceptance of e-learning. The participants were enrolled in the Department of English Language at the Faculty of Arts, University of Khartoum. Data were collected via a Google Forms questionnaire and analysed statistically. While participants appreciated the flexibility of e-learning, this benefit was overshadowed by substantial barriers, including internet connectivity issues, low motivation, limited access to learning materials, and difficulties supporting instructor and peer interactions. Perceptions of disadvantages were strongly negative (M = 4.08, SD = 0.92, RW = 82%), compared with neutral perceptions of its benefits (M = 3.00, SD = 1.14, RW = 60%). The study concludes that the subjects preferred face-to-face learning over e-learning, with an average score of 4.08 (SD = 0.92) and a relative weight of 82%. Larger-scale studies are needed to substantiate the findings; however, the outcomes are essential for informing policymakers in developing e-learning policies and practices as an alternative pedagogical approach to traditional teaching methods.