School environments were viewed as potential super-spreaders, considering the amount of interaction among learners and teachers, and the frequent use of surfaces such as desks, boards and chairs. Learners also use communal toilets and taps for drinking water, hence it was feared that schools were dangerous places for the transmission of the virus.
The strategies focused on remote and mostly digital learning activities, including online learning, encouragement to read textbooks and listening to educational television and radio programmes. According to the World Bank, the uptake of these programmes varied widely, with nine in 10 children engaged in learning activities in
Burkina Faso, and six in 10 in
Covid-19 blamed for drop in Western Cape matric pass rate
By Sisonke Mlamla
Share
Cape Town - For the first time since 2010, the Western Cape dipped below 80% in its matric pass rate, dropping from 82.3% in 2019 to 79.9%.
The province however achieved increases in both the maths (70.8%) and maths literacy (82.9%) pass rates, as well as boasting the top two candidates in maths nationally for the second year in a row.
It has also achieved an increase in the number of Bachelor passes, with 22 634 of the 51 633 candidates that wrote in the Western Cape, which is 43.8% compared to 43.6% last year.
Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said all provinces saw their pass rates decline â âan understandable outcome during a pandemic that severely disrupted schooling around the worldâ.
Case against man accused of matric maths exam leak postponed 28 January 2021 - 05:46 The suspect works at a Johannesburg-based company that the basic education department contracted to print the 2020 matric exam papers. Image: 123RF/Julija Sapic
The case against a man arrested in connection with the leaking of matric exams has been postponed for further investigation.
Themba Daniel Shikwambana appeared at court in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old works at a Johannesburg-based company that the basic education department contracted to print the 2020 matric exam papers.
The mathematics paper two exam was widely circulated in some provinces just before the paper was due to be written.
Across the country, school management, education assistants and general assistants were expected back at school today while teachers were expected to return on February 1