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affected students were those who got warning (Li & Lalani, 2020).
stuck in the middle of new admission
or a new session because their new Need for the study
syllabus could not be started due to child is different therefore their desires
lockdown in the whole country. There and preferences are also different. They
is a difference between online teaching make choices that are affected by the
and distance education where online choices of many people at their home or
teaching could be a means or a method neighbourhood. But, there is a need to
to complete the syllabus of distance identify the student centered factors that
education courses.
are responsible for a student’s intention
Many universities have proclaimed their to study through distance mode. Apart
excellence, but it is the student who can from basic factors like income, social
actually analyze and decide what is best status and social factors there are many
for him/her. These students can also be psychological and personal factors that
considered as consumers of education have deep impact over a student’s or
as they go to the market, search for consumer’s preference. The results of
various colleges and then decide this study would help in assessing the
about their admission (Schiffman, student’s preferences post COVID-19
Kanuk, Ramesh, & Wisenblit, 2010). crises and would help education
While assessing various colleges, the institutions to devise their programs to
admission fees and associated costs attract students for distance education
is one of the factors that influence the courses. Usually, students prefer to
final decision of students or consumers study from a regular college/university
(Fidalgo, Thormann, Kulyk, & Lencastre, but it is imperative to study the changes
2020). Since a student alone is not in preferences (if any) of students in
capable of making accurate decisions, relation to distance education after
he/she seeks help from their family COVID-19 crises. Since the crises have
members and friends. mentally affected many people all over
the world, it must have impacted the
The scenario has changed, as earlier
online teaching was not possible for all preferences and perception of students
the students due to paucity of resources. towards distance education programs.
The students were supposed to collect
books/notes and attend weekly classes Objectives
held at the designated center. But, the The objectives of this study are not
technology upgradation has been a elaborative, instead are focused on
boon for both teachers and students the major area of research which is as
(Sheridan & Kelly, 2010) that has led follows:-
to improvement in communication 1. To identify the factors responsible
between teacher and student (Li & for students’ (as consumers)
Lalani, 2020). A Covid-19 crisis has made intention to study through distance
academicians think about other modes education mode.
of teaching, as another pandemic 2. To assess the relationship between
situation may arise anytime without a

Indian Journal of Educational Technology 27
Volume 3, Issue 2, July 2021