Impact of virtual education on the academic performance of secondary school students

Authors

  • Kattya Katiuska Figueroa Mora Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena. Santa Elena-Ecuador
  • Marianela Silva Sánchez Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, Santa Elena-Ecuador https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0775-6826

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56200/mentor.v5i14.11616

Keywords:

Virtual education, Academic performance, Digital divide

Abstract

Virtual education transformed high school education by ensuring educational continuity; however, its effects on academic achievement were uneven and conditioned by pedagogical design, technological access, teacher mediation, and students’ self-regulation. This study aimed to analyze the impact of virtual education on the academic achievement of high school students, considering pedagogical, technological, and motivational factors reported in recent scientific literature. A narrative review was conducted using Scopus and SciELO, selecting seven studies published between 2019 and 2024 through defined inclusion criteria, an extraction matrix, and thematic analysis to synthesize recent multidimensional educational evidence. The results showed non-homogeneous impacts: improvements under effective pedagogical mediation and adequate technological access, mixed outcomes where persistent gaps remained, and positive motivational effects associated with mobile platforms and virtual reality. It was concluded that virtual education can improve academic achievement at the high school level only when supported by intentional pedagogical design, continuous teacher support, and technological equity; otherwise, it reproduces inequalities and limits learning.

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Author Biographies

Kattya Katiuska Figueroa Mora, Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena. Santa Elena-Ecuador

Santa Elena Peninsula State University. Santa Elena, Ecuador

Marianela Silva Sánchez , Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, Santa Elena-Ecuador

Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, Santa Elena-Ecuador

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Published

2026-05-15

How to Cite

Figueroa Mora, K. K., & Silva Sánchez , M. (2026). Impact of virtual education on the academic performance of secondary school students. MENTOR Revista De investigación Educativa Y Deportiva , 5(14), 415–424. https://doi.org/10.56200/mentor.v5i14.11616

Issue

Section

Review Articles