This archive report was first published on 11 July 2020.
Africa's Education Dilemma Amid COVID-19 Pandemic ¶
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe, schools in parts of sub-Saharan Africa remain closed indefinitely due to a surge in coronavirus cases, further crippling already fragile education systems on the continent.
Like elsewhere in the world, the coronavirus has grossly affected the education sector in Africa, and there are worries that it will take some time for many countries to recover from its effects.
According to the latest data, Kenya has reported 8,250 confirmed cases and at least 165 deaths, prompting authorities to announce that schools could only open in 2021.
The academic year 2019-2020 has been canceled much to the dismay of all stakeholders, including students, teachers, and education policymakers.
High school finalists who were looking forward to completing their high school studies were left devastated by the decision. However, some finalists are happy that the delay gives them more time to revise for their final exams.
"I am not happy because I wanted to finish school and embark on plans, and I'm sure many like me, wanted to finish school this year," Catherine Njoki, a finalist in Kenya, told DW.
On the other hand, fellow finalist Tom Mwangi thinks that the delay is a blessing in disguise since it will give him more time to prepare for his final exams next year.
"If you look at it from a positive perspective, I have more time to prepare for the exams... but also you should know you had that excitement that you are going to finish school and go to university," Njoki said.
West Africa is also facing challenges in reopening schools. In Ghana, students are reluctant to resume classes due to the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and concerns about their safety.
"We have to go to school to write our exams to be admitted to the university. But with coronavirus around, it is terrifying," Joel Sonne, a student doing his finals, told DW.
There are concerns that the coronavirus epidemic risks overwhelming Ghana's health sector if the government does not take urgent action, such as guaranteeing health workers have sufficient protective gear.
On July 5, Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo went into self-isolation for 14 days on the advice of doctors after a person in his close circle tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a government statement.
Parents and guardians have different worries about the future of their children. In Kenya, they are worried about tuition fees, while in Ghana, safety matters come first.
"It is excruciating that a whole year has gone to waste, and some of us usually pay full-year school fees for our kids," Mary Wanjiku told DW. "Will the school fees that I had spent in 2020 cover the 2021 calendar year?"
Teachers' Welfare ¶
Teachers in Kenya welcomed the government's decision to reopen schools in January 2021.
"The safety of teachers and learners in the workplace is also very critical and important," Wilson Sossion, the secretary-general of Kenya National Union of Teachers, said.
Education analyst Amos Kaburu thinks that African governments should follow Kenya's decision to protect the lives of children.
"Governments have to be very realistic about the safety of the children. So any responsible government should do what the Kenyan government did, and that is to take a conservative approach," Kaburu said.
