Inequalities in basic education exposed by lockdown says advocacy group
An education advocacy group says the year-long lockdown's exposed the inequalities in our basic education system.
Equal Education's been reflecting on the past 12 months.
Tomorrow marks a year since South Africa entered a hard lockdown, as part of efforts to stem the spread of Covid-19.
It resulted in school closures nationwide - with teachers and pupils having to adapt to online teaching and learning.
Equal Education's Hopolang Selebalo says schools and pupils in disadvantaged areas have suffered.
"Government has to put measure in place to make sure with schools reopening they do safely."
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"But because we were dealing with a severe infrastructure backlog, there was uneven school reopening for schools across the country. So one would find the wealthier schools will reopen sooner and for more learners than the unresourced schools."
Selebalo says the learning gaps can't be closed in a year. "Make sure that there aren't any more disruptions in schools because this opening and closing have been detrimental, even the rotational system isn't ideal because it means some learners are out some days and lose contact time with teachers."
She says more focus needs to placed on school infrastructure. "If infrastructure projects are cancelled or delayed it obviously has implications on whether learners can go back safely."
