The impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on teaching and learning: a case of secondary schools in Lulekani Circuit, Mopani District, Limpopo Province

Abstract

The advent of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was unexpected the world over. On the 11th of March 2020, the World Health Organizations (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic (World Health Organization (WHO), 2019). COVID-19 first emerged in the Chinese Province of Wuhun in December 2019. The advent of COVID-19 was followed by stringent measures on attempts to curb the spread of the virus, among them was the lockdown measures. There were also various health responses on attempts to fight COVID-19, with various countries around the world implementing several Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM), which included movement restrictions, closure of schools and businesses and international travel restrictions (Spaull & Van der Berg, 2020). From 27 March 2020, South Africa was compelled into a national lockdown following all the business, private and public institutions being closed (Schleicher, 2020). Primary and secondary schools were the first to be closed on 18 March 2020 in an attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19. The current study is set to examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on teaching and learning at two selected secondary schools in Lulekani Circuit, Mopani District in Limpopo Province. A qualitative case study research design will be adopted for this study, where the interview guide will be used to collect the data through interviews. The study participants who will be purposefully sampled will include School Management Team members (SMT) – principals or deputy principals, Heads of Department (HoD), educators and learners of these selected two Secondary Schools. The data collected will be analysed using thematic analysis where text will be analysed and coded into themes. The findings on the perceived implications of COVID-19 on education will be presented as results. Recommendations and suggestions will be provided based on the findings. Recommendations will be provided to assist the Heads of Schools, the Department of Basic Education, and other relevant departments on how situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic could be dealt with in the future.