Students Perceptions on Distance Education in Ethiopian Higher Education: Exploring the Experience of Haramaya University

The study explores students’ perceptions in open and distance education at Haramaya University. A total of 120 students (90 male and 30 female) represent the study sample. Data were collected from the audience through a questionnaire which consisted of open ended items with a reliability of a equal to 0.96. The collected data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA (One-way &Two-way) and the Pearson Product Moment Correlation(r). The results disclosed a considerable proportion of students’ have the perceptions that the quality of distance education system in general and the distance teacher training program in particular ranges from moderate to poor. Female learners’ demonstrate lower perceptions of the quality of the program while their male counterpart demonstrates high quality perceptions. There is a positive correlation between academic score and perceptions score. Married learners show a lower level of academic achievement compared to those who are unmarried. The natural science students have better academic performance and higher perceptions scores than social science and language students. And, high achievers show significant higher perceptions than the low and average achievers. In addition, diploma students demonstrate higher perceptions scores than the BA/BSC or certificate students with regards to the ODL system of education.