Schools were closed for months due to Covid-19, which meant online learning for those who had access to devices and the internet, while others had to completely stop their learning because they did not have access to those resources. These learners lost valuable learning time.
Lockdown not only affected learning time but also impacted the implementation of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) for the 2020 and 2021 academic years. To reduce the impact of Covid-19, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) worked with the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) and other stakeholders which include the Teacher Unions and the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT).
Together these departments assembled a framework for curriculum recovery plans after the Covid-19 lockdown. The framework revised the school calendar and reorganised the curriculum to create opportunities for curriculum recovery.
In addition, the framework motivated for a nationally driven process of careful Curriculum Content Mapping which ensured that the curriculum was covered. The DBE used Curriculum Content Mapping to develop the Recovery Annual Teaching Plans and revise the Programme of Assessments.
The Curriculum Content Mapping was used as a broad policy to help schools with guided pacing and sequencing of the curriculum content and assessments for Grade R to 11. The process was done in such a way as to ensure that final learning outcomes were not comprised.
Essential core content in each phase was covered to prepare learners for the next phase and lay the necessary foundation for the final examinations for progression. The number of School-Based Tasks in all subjects was cut down to ensure that more time was spent teaching the curriculum.
June examinations were removed in all grades to ensure more time could be spent on learning. School days were increased by reducing school holidays in 2021 to ensure that learning and teaching were prioritised.
The following interventions were implemented to recover lost learning time:
- PEDs developed catch-up plans.
- Core and fundamental content from previous grades were implemented into revision sessions before new content was taught in current grades.
- Lessons in various critical subjects were broadcast on TV and radio.
- Self Study Guides in various subjects were provided to Grade 10 to 12 learners.
