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Covid-19 disruptions and education in South Africa

Two years of evidence

Bibliographic Data

ID21540988
AuthorsGabrielle Wills (0000-0001-8040-474X, Both from Research on Socio-Economic Policy (ReSEP), Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa, corresponding author), Shanelle Van Der Berg (0000-0002-9634-2579, Both from Research on Socio-Economic Policy (ReSEP), Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa), Servaas Van Der Berg (0000-0002-3487-4983, Stellenbosch University)
Year2024
Volume41
Issue2
Pages446-465
Publication date2024-03-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDevelopment Southern Africa (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0376-835X • E-ISSN: 1470-3637
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0376835x.2024.2311711
OpenAlexW4391981518
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited21

This paper provides an overview of learning losses and altered schooling patterns in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021). Five major trends emerge from a review of the evidence. These include significant learning losses (38–118% of a year of learning), widened learning inequality, lowered grade repetition rates, increased secondary school enrolments and an unprecedented rise in candidates writing and passing the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination. School completion significantly increased in 2021 and 2022, spurred by COVID-19 adjusted assessment and promotion practices in Grades 10 and 11. Larger numbers of youth also achieved a NSC pass or Bachelor's pass enabling access to university. With twin pandemic shocks of learning losses and secondary school enrolment increases, remediating losses and realigning progression rules to effective assessment practices should be prioritised

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Outbreak · Pandemic · Political science · Socioeconomics · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Medicine · Youth Substance Use and School Attendance · Virology

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    Ina V S Mullis, Ina Mullis et al.•2023

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    Open Access•Per Engzell, A Frey et al.•Proceedings of the National…•2021

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    Open Access•Bastian A Betthäuser, Anders Malthe Bach-Mortensen et al.•Nature Human Behaviour•2023

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    Open Access•Michelle Kaffenberger•International Journal of…•2020

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    Open Access•Cally Ardington, Gabrielle Wills et al.•International Journal of…•2021

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    Open Access•Joana Elisa Maldonado, Kristof De Witte•British Educational Research…•2022

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Unique citing works5
Citations per year2,5
Citation span2024 - 2026 (3)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 5
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