Covid19 Pandemic and African Public Education System.
Oscar Olotuche x Mabel Echewune
In December 2019, a novel disease showed up in Wuhan, China named Coronavirus.
It was a disease whose source was highly disputed as some claimed. it is gotten from bats while others alleged it was a laboratory generation. Whichever is the case, the sickness changed the World in ways that this generation has never seen before. Schools, churches, mosques, flights, hotels, and every form of public gatherings were put to a halt. It was more like the world was at a standstill.
Covid-19 in Africa.
The virus got imported to Africa and based on the poor health facilities in the African continent, it was said that the continent will not be able to handle it but so far, the continent is doing well in handling the pandemic as the number of recoveries across the continent is higher than deaths.
As of the 4th of June, 2020, Africa has 158,030 confirmed cases, 4,505 deaths were recorded and 67,492 patients recovered.
The implication is that Africa has not faired badly in managing the global pandemic that is stressing out some of the best medical facilities in the world.
Response to Covid-19 by African Countries.
In trying to establish the response of African countries to Covid-19, I will focus on few countries like Egypt, South Africa, Senegal, and Madagascar and see what can be learned from their responses to improving ours in Nigeria.
- Coronavirus in Egypt.
Presently, it is estimated that Egypt has about 29,764 confirmed cases, 7,756 recoveries and. 1,126 deaths from Covid-19. (Wikipedia)
The government of Egypt has praised the efforts of medical personnel which is called the “White Army” as they struggle to control and manage the spread of coronavirus. However, Egypt as a country has not closed up the country entirely as it said the country cannot handle a closed up economy hence there is an open economy while the pandemic is fought by medical personnel. This has made. the medical personnel to complain as they decry the. lack of protective equipment from coronavirus for the staff and has led to about 13% of the Covid19 infections being medical personnel. (WHO)
The only globally done kind of control in Egypt is wearing of face mask and social distancing which has not been able to control the pandemic effectively. However, schools in Egypt remain closed for now with no feasible date of resumption as a result of Covid19.
- Covid19 in South Africa.
In South Africa, the country has the highest rate or number of Covid19 infections in. the continent with confirmed cases of about 40,792, 21,311 recovery and 848 deaths recorded.
Though having the highest number of covid19 cases in Africa, it is being managed well by the medical personnel of the country and the government as the death rate is not in tandem with the confirmed cases.
The President of South Africa, Ramaphosa declared it a national emergency and has withdrawn from the country’s restricted emergency fund to fight the pandemic by providing funds that will be used to purchase all necessary medical equipment and test kits that will be used. to end the pandemic. Though schools were closed, the government is putting up structures for schools to reopen.
The government is ensuring the compulsory provision of water in all schools in the country, disinfect surfaces where students could contract the virus, and ensure social distancing in seating arrangements in the classroom as well as compulsory wearing of face mask when school resumes. In the main time, schools are embarking on the use of virtual learning which is a technologically inspired kind of teaching and learning using computer gadgets.
- Covid19 in Senegal
In Senegal, covid19 was first recorded in March but as at present, the country has about 3,739 confirmed cases, 1,858 recoveries and 42 deaths. (African Centre for Disease Control).
Schools in Senegal were set to reopen on the 2nd of June but it is. suspended as a result of some teachers in southern Senegal testing positive to coronavirus which the government perceived could be a threat to the health of students hence the suspension of resumption.
- Covid19 in Madagascar.
One country in Africa that is doing well in the fight against coronavirus is Madagascar.
The country had 371 confirmed cases, 131 recovery and 2 deaths only in May.
This report is born out of the discovery of herbal supplements in the country that can be used to fight the pandemic called covid organics which was. designed by a herbal team from Madagascar. The president said the organics can protect against covid19 which has been sent to different countries in Africa. Nigeria inclusive.
Schools in Madagascar are in session due to the effectiveness of the covid organics which can treat and manage the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Having looked at the coronavirus pandemic in different African countries, their peculiar situations and responses, it is germane at this point to look at Nigeria, its peculiarities, and what can be learned to keep the educational sector moving.
On February 27th, 2020, Nigeria witnessed her first case of coronavirus with an Italian who came into Lagos. From that pioneer case, Nigeria is at present11,516 confirmed cases, 3,535 recoveries and 323 deaths as a result of covid19.
By March, all schools were closed down and so far, non is resumed class activities yet. The question is: “How long will this be”? One sector that is suffering globally in the battle against coronavirus pandemic is the educational sector. This is so because it has to do with crowd and face to face interaction.
Now that crowd is to be minimised, How can we handle this especially in Nigeria? Currently, some measures are being taken to bridge the gap such that learning can go on even in the face of lockdown. Some states have established television and radio teaching schools such that students are to be at home and learn from these platforms.
It is a noble idea but somehow, it limits questions and interaction between learners and teachers as it’s only the teacher that determines how it works. Other private schools especially secondary schools are running online teaching programmes using different technologies like Zoom, WhatsApp, Messenger and other forms of virtual learning opportunities.
However, these also are laden with some challenges as not all students can afford data or even smartphones to be part of the system. Students in public schools mostly lack these systems being put in place by their government to learn even in the lockdown. Some are found in communities were telecommunications network doesn’t even exist so how does one carry those types along?
Looking at these observed challenges, what can be done to promote learning during and after covid19?
- Government should provide cheap smartphones to students of public schools.
- The government in collaboration with telecommunications companies should reduce the cost of data purchase or possibly create cheap special data packages restricted only to online learning purposes.
- If the above two cannot be done easily, the government should redesign the school time arrangement such that it doesn’t get crowded but arranged in such a way that limited students will come to class in the morning so that their space will be spread across to allow for social distancing. Same in the evening so that there will be no crowd in the classrooms.
- Government should make face masks compulsory, hand sanitisers, and spirits to disinfect open spaces.
- All schools must be disinfected daily with chemicals to curtail the spread of coronavirus.
- The accepted covid organics from Madagascar should be made available for students if tested by National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control to be effective and can be used to treat covid19. This will enable learning to continue with little or no fears over covid19.
- Government should provide incentives and remuneration packages to teachers that will boost their Morales in the discharge of this onerous duty.
- Finally, the government should begin to make huge investments in virtual learning like the provision of laptops and desktops to students with free WiFi which will enhance learning even if the school is on lockdown.
If we as a country decide to take our educational sector Seriously, these can be done and learning will never be suspended all because of lack of face to face meetings.
P.S
Oscar Olotuche is a content writer, a fiction writer, a political analyst and a teacher involved in building the next generation. Presently, he is a teacher with Metro International Schools, Kubwa.
Mabel Onyaole Echewune is a documentary photographer that specializes in education projects through her initiative The PEN Project focused on telling stories that change the negative narrative to inspire community development and stakeholders involved in improving the poor state of public education in Nigeria.
