Virtual School Environment as a Correlate of Academic Achievement among Adolescents during COVID-19

The purpose of this study was to explore virtual school environment as a correlate of academic achievement among adolescents during COVID-19. The sample for the study comprised of 500 adolescents in the age group of 16-18 years studying in +1 and +2 classes in the Government Senior Secondary Schools of rural and urban areas of Ludhiana and Moga districts of Punjab. Self-structured questionnaire was prepared to assess the virtual school environment of adolescents during COVID-19. The questionnaire had dimensions of the virtual school environment: student-teacher interaction, physical environment, and academic achievement and peer interactions. The results revealed adolescents perceived a high level of student -teacher interaction during virtual classes during COVID-19. Non-significant correlation was found between the virtual school environment and academic achievement. Thus, online classes didn’t affect the academic achievement of adolescents during COVID-19. The significant contribution of student-teacher interaction on academic achievement in adolescent girls was seen indicating student-teacher interaction during virtual class had an impact on the academic achievement of adolescent girls. Peer interactions had an impact on academic achievement of adolescent boys.