The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on scholastic progress can be much worse than previously envisaged.
Disturbing projections just released indicate that between March 2020 and June 2021, most primary school learners in South Africa have lost 70%-100% (i.e. a full year) of learning relative to the 2019 cohort. This is according to data from the latest National Income Dynamics Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (NIDS-CRAM).
In total, 93 days of schooling have occurred between 15 February 2021 and 30 June 2021, the researchers said.
Assuming contact learning for 50% of this time, best estimates suggest that most primary school children have lost between 70% to a full year of learning since March 2020.
“To put this in perspective, this is the same as saying that the average Grade 3 child in June 2021 would have the same learning outcomes as the average Grade 2 child in June 2019.
However, the international evidence points towards additional effects of ‘forgetting’ or regression that could hinder current learning, particularly if teaching occurs as if the content of the previous year’s curriculum has been mastered, let alone learnt.”
Therefore, cumulative learning losses could exceed a full year of learning as learners move through the school system, the researchers said.
Even in the most favourable circumstances where learners attend excellent schools, it is not far-fetched to assume that an academic backlog, though not as much as one school year, unfortunately is accumulating.
So now what?
Although schools will put certain measures in place to make up for curriculum content lost, parents can undoubtedly also play a significant role.
Parents and children are nowadays spending more time together. Whereas an excellent teacher can foster a love for one particular subject, parents can create a climate in which children can develop a love for intellectual activities in general. Parents are in an ideal position to actively collaborate, encourage, and intentionally show their children how knowledge can be applied creatively to problem-solving, and to stimulate critical thinking. These are critical abilities in life, maybe even more essential than a knowledge base of facts.
Children typically seek role models, identify with them and follow their example. This is one of the reasons children watch and emulate the actions of sport, pop, and movie stars. It is therefore of great importance that parents ensure that they are positive intellectual role models, displaying a positive job attitude, and enthusiasm to know more and understand better. The home still remains the most important educational institution in a child’s life.
For more information on how parents can assist their children to counter the Covid backlog, contact info@studysmart.org.za.
1(Source: Businesstech.co.za, 16 July 2021)
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