Living with COVID-19, Challenges on Teaching and Learning: The African Perspective

The Inception of the Deadly Virus

 

What started in late December 2019 as a virus in a market in Wuhan Province in China was declared a pandemic by WHO in March 2020. The novel coronavirus nicknamed “COVID-19” is a different virus connected to the same family of viruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and certain kinds of common cold (Bender, 2020). 

Children having televised lessons at home

Image from UNICEF, Kenya

It is spread through direct interaction with respirational drops of an infected person (either by means of coughing and sneezing). One could also be infected by touching virus polluted surfaces and in turn touching their face (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth) (Bender, 2020).

 

This deadly virus has spread to almost all countries across the globe affecting economies and every facet of human life. Education is not an exception, institutions ranging right from nursery/kindergarten to tertiary education, have their teaching and learning disrupted. Governments had to close down schools in order to contain the spread of the virus and also to protect the lives of future generations. 

 

According to UNESCO (2020), about 40 million teachers and 1 billion students and youth worldwide have been affected by the closure of schools due to COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers are learning effective online teaching mechanisms and strategies whilst students are also adjusting to having online classes, interactions, instructions and examinations.

 

Read More

 

Author:

Article Writer & Content Contributor

Dolores Mensah Hervie

Meet the team: Dolores Mensah Hervie volunteer at Global Institute for Lifelong Empowerment GiLE

Share this article:

Facebook
LinkedIn
Email
Print
Twitter

Disclaimer:

The opinions expressed in this article/publication are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of GiLE or its members.

Read more articles:

Leave a Reply