Education and COVID-19 in Africa: Evidence and Perspectives from Africa

• In Event: Roundtable Session 7
  In Refereed Roundtable Session: Teaching in globalization

Proposal

Objectives and approaches: Using a case studies approach, this presentation provides evidence on the COVID-19 policies and practices from 10 African countries with a focus on five themes (school reopening, nutrition, wellbeing, support for displaced people, teacher training and support). The case studies involve data collection from 15 key informant interviews on policy changes and opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure learner continuity, with an emphasis on gender, inclusion and equity. Additionally, the case studies shed light on challenges encountered and future recommendations.

The studies addressed the following three questions: 1. What and how did various aspects of the selected education projects and programs respond successfully to the disruptions in education by the pandemic? 2. To what extent were governments in the various countries involved in mobilizing support, implementing interventions, and disseminating information? 3. How did the responses address disruptions in education among vulnerable student populations; and how effective were the responses to their needs?

The case studies are distributed evenly across the Anglophone and Francophone regions. The foci for the countries include: (a) delivering awareness campaigns to mitigate gender-based violence (Ghana, Mali), (b) providing community-based mental health and psychosocial support, (c) providing children with meals through school feeding programs (Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo), (d) teacher training on alternative teaching approaches including digital-learning solutions and developing innovative digital learning materials (Kenya, Niger), (e) using back-to-school campaigns and initiatives such as reduced school fees, public awareness campaign during school reopening, provision of school kits (Malawi, Madagascar), and (f) disseminating information within internally displaced, stateless, and refugee communities using Facebook and rural radio stations (Burkina Faso, Nigeria).

Findings: Governments in the included countries focused on (1) Employing alternative teaching approaches to reach learners. (2) Improving and revising educational procedures and policies for future crisis preparedness. (3) Adhering to health guidelines and ensuring safety measures was a priority in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. (4) Collaboration among governments, development partners, communities, and the private sector to ensure implementation of health guidelines, practices and learning continuity.

Challenges: Education budgets faced some reduction as governments reallocated finances and resources to the health department in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic exacerbated challenges such as the digital divide and compounded the out of school challenge. Further, due to school closures, changes in the academic calendar and inequities, the pandemic disrupted academic gains obtained pre-pandemic. Vulnerable populations continue to be at heightened risk for exclusion from educational opportunities. Radio, television programs and ICT were used as alternative mediums to reach students using the existing infrastructure. The pandemic impacted teachers’ and students’ wellbeing due to grief, trauma, loss of income, gender-based violence and overall stress.

Policy implications: Findings from the case studies will inform future crisis preparedness and contribute to building resilient education systems in sub-Saharan Africa. These findings will contribute to discussions on improving education to strengthen education systems, create equitable opportunities for students, especially vulnerable populations, by highlighting the contextual factors and drivers of the innovations that led to their success.

Authors

• Elisheba Wairimu Kiru, African Population and Health Research Center

• Brenda Aromu Wawire, African Population and Health Research Center

• Moses Ngware, African Population And Health Research Center