CHALLENGES OF E-LEARNING IMPLEMENTATION AT THE LIBYAN HIGHER TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL INSTITUTES: LEADERS’ AND EFL TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVES

Hamza M. Muftah

Abstract


This study attempts to identify challenges faced by leaders and EFL teachers at Libyan higher vocational and technical institutes when implementing e-Learning. The present study aims to explore administrative challenges faced by institutional leaders in managing e-learning implementation. In addition, the study aims to highlight the pedagogical and technological challenges in the implementation of e-learning from EFL teachers’ perspectives at higher vocational and technical institutes in Libya. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, where a structured questionnaire was administered to thirty-five EFL teachers, and four institutional leaders were interviewed. The findings revealed that institutional leaders and EFL teachers at Libyan institutes face several administrative, pedagogical and technological challenges, such as the absence of a clear legal framework, institutional and policy-related barriers, limited financial support, weak institutional planning, inadequate ICT infrastructure, limited e-learning methodological skills, change resistance, lack of e-learning teaching aids during lectures and insufficient training.

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter


Keywords


E-learning, EFL teachers, institutional leaders, administrative challenges, pedagogical challenges, technological challenges

Full Text:

PDF

References


Aini, Q., Budiarto, M., & Putra, P. O. H. (2020). Exploring e-learning challenges during the global COVID-19 pandemic: A review. Journal of Information Systems, 16(2), 57–65. https://doi.org/10.21609/jsi.v16i2.1011

Al-Azawei, A., Parslow, P., & Lundqvist, K. (2016). Barriers and opportunities of e-learning implementation in Iraq: A case of public universities. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 17(5), 127–146. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v17i5.2501

Almaiah, M. A., Al-Khasawneh, A., & Althunibat, A. (2020). Exploring the critical challenges and factors influencing the e-learning system usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Education and Information Technologies, 25, 5261–5280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10219-y

Alnemrat, A., Aldamen, H., Al-Deaibes, M., & Alsharefeen, R. (2023). E-learning in a Jordanian higher education institution. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1136142. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136142

Alonso, F., López, G., Manrique, D., & Viñes, J. M. (2005). An instructional model for web-based e-learning education with a blended learning process approach. British Journal of Educational Technology, 36(2), 217–235. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2005.00454.x

Bashitialshaaer, R., Alhendawi, M., & Lassoued, Z. (2021). Obstacle comparisons to achieving distance learning and applying electronic exams during the COVID-19 pandemic. Symmetry, 13(1), 99. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym13010099

Driscoll, M., & Carliner, S. (2005). Advanced web-based training strategies: Unlocking instructionally sound online learning. John Wiley & Sons. Retrieved from https://books.google.ro/books/about/Advanced_Web_Based_Training_Strategies.html?id=rAJZG6UV1-0C&redir_esc=y

European Commission. (2001). Communication from the commission to the council and the European parliament: The e-learning action plan. Brussels. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52001DC0172

Fatuma, A. (2024). Understanding blended learning from students’ perspectives: Challenges and opportunities in Saudi undergraduate settings. English Language Teaching, 17(4), 1. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v17n4p1

Gul, S. B., & A., A. (2015). E-learning revolutionise education: An exploratory study. E-learning: A Boom or Curse. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED562557.pdf

Guri-Rosenblit, S. (2005). Distance education and e-learning: Not the same thing. Higher Education, 49(4), 467–493. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-004-0040-0

Islam, N., Beer, M., & Slack, F. (2015). E-learning challenges faced by academics in higher education. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 3(5), 102–112. Retrieved from http://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/10403

Ja’ashan, M. M. N. H. (2020). The challenges and prospects of using e-learning among EFL students in Bisha University. Arab World English Journal, 11(1), 124–137. https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol11no1.11

Kumar, S. (2015, July 10). 5 common problems faced by students in e-learning and how to overcome them. E-learning Industry. https://elearningindustry.com/5-common-problems-faced-by-students-in-elearning-overcome

Lodan, H. (2021). E-learning transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic among faculty members at Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University. Utopía y Praxis Latinoamericana, 26(2), 286–304. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4678902

Manfuso, L. G. (2020, April 15). How the remote learning pivot could shape higher ed IT. EdTech Magazine. Retrieved from https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2020/04/how-remote-learning-pivot-could-shape-higher-ed-it

Moustakas, L., & Robrade, D. (2022). The challenges and realities of e-learning during COVID-19: The case of university sport and physical education. Challenges, 13(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/challe13010009

Oulamine, A., El Gareh, F., Hattabou, A., & Elmenssouri, A. (2025). The evolution of e-learning and its challenges in higher education: A theoretical review. African Scientific Journal, 3(28), 174–196. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14777792

Oulamine, A., Chakra, R., Ziky, R., Bahida, H., El Gareh, F., Oubihi, I., & Massiki, A. (2025). A systematic literature review of barriers affecting e-learning in higher education. Educational Process: International Journal, 17, e2025396. https://doi.org/10.22521/edupij.2025.17.396

Phuoc, N. M., Hung, N. H., Anh, N. K., & Tan, P. X. (2014). Student readiness for e-learning in technical universities. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Educational Technology (ICET) (p. 99). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294884883_Student's_Readiness_on_e-Learning_in_Technical_University_Special_at_HUST

Qureshi, I. A., Ilyas, K., Yasmin, R., & Whitty, M. (2012). Challenges of implementing e-learning in a Pakistani university. Knowledge Management & E-Learning, 4(3), 310–324. https://doi.org/10.34105/j.kmel.2012.04.025

Sadeghi, S. H. (2018). E-learning practice in higher education: A mixed-method comparative analysis. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65939-8

Tarus, J. K., Gichoya, D., & Muumbo, A. (2015). Challenges of implementing e-learning in Kenya. International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 16(1), 1–36. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v16i1.1816

Tshabalala, M., et al. (2014). Implementing blended learning at a developing university: Obstacles in the way. The Electronic Journal of e-Learning, 12(1), 101–110. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287527573_Implementing_blended_learning_at_a_developing_university_Obstacles_in_the_way

Verduin, J. R., & Clark, T. A. (1991). Distance education. Jossey-Bass. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Distance-Education%3A-The-Foundations-of-Effective-Verduin-Clark/a069059bc1b8e0af60e48606faa7b35145935033

Wagner, D. A., Day, B., James, T., Kozma, R., Miller, J., & Unwin, T. (2008). Monitoring and evaluation of ICT in education projects. World Bank. Retrieved from https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/708561468175470484/pdf/375220ICT1Education01PUBLIC1.pdf

Zhao, Y. (2020). COVID-19 as a catalyst for educational change. Prospects, 49, 29–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-020-09477-y




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v13i1.6469

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Hamza M. Muftah

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2015-2026. European Journal of Education Studies (ISSN 2501 - 1111) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library (Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei). All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms. All authors who send their manuscripts to this journal and whose articles are published on this journal retain full copyright of their articles. All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).